AAP Accuses BJP Of Replacing Ambedkar, Bhagat Singh’s Photos In Delhi CM’s Office; BJP Calls It Diversion

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday alleged that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Delhi had removed the portraits of Dr BR Ambedkar and Bhagat Singh from the Chief Minister's office, replacing them with images of Mahatma Gandhi, President Droupadi Murmu, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In response, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta dismissed the allegations, stating that AAP was attempting to divert attention from its "corruption and misdeeds."

Earlier today, AAP leader Atishi shared photographs on social media, comparing images of the Chief Minister's office during her tenure-where portraits of Ambedkar and Bhagat Singh were visible-with a current image featuring Gupta, where portraits of Mahatma Gandhi, President Murmu, and PM Modi were displayed.

"The anti-Dalit mentality of the BJP is well known. Today, proof of its anti-Dalit mentality has been presented. (AAP chief) Arvind Kejriwal had put up photos of Babasaheb Ambedkar and Shaheed Bhagat Singh in every office of the Delhi government. Since the BJP has come to power, it has removed both these photos from the Chief Minister's office. This shows that the BJP is an anti-Dalit and anti-Sikh party," Atishi declared at a press conference.

Echoing Atishi's sentiments, Arvind Kejriwal asserted that the removal of Ambedkar's portrait had deeply hurt millions of the Dalit leader's followers.

"The new BJP government of Delhi removed Babasaheb's photo and put up the photo of Prime Minister Modi. This is not right. This has hurt millions of followers of Babasaheb. I have a request to the BJP. You can put the photo of the Prime Minister, but do not remove the photo of Babasaheb. Let his photo remain there," he wrote on social media.

However, Chief Minister Gupta, during a meeting with her ministers and BJP MLAs, countered these claims, arguing that AAP was using the issue as a smokescreen to divert attention from its past governance failures.

"Should the photo of the head of government not be put up? Should the photo of the President of the country not be put up? Should the photo of Father of the Nation Gandhi Ji not be put up? Bhagat Singh and Babasaheb are respectable personalities of the country and our guide. So, this room is of the Chief Minister of Delhi and as the head of the government, we have given them the space. It is not my work to answer them. I am answerable to the people," she told ANI.

In a video circulating online, portraits of Mahatma Gandhi, President Murmu, and PM Modi can be seen displayed behind where she was seated, while the pictures of Ambedkar and Bhagat Singh were placed on opposite sides of the room.

This controversy has erupted as the Delhi Assembly convenes its first session following the BJP's return to power after 27 years, ending AAP's decade-long governance in the city. The three-day session is expected to include the presentation of pending Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) reports assessing the performance of the previous AAP administration.

BJP MLA Arvinder Singh Lovely dismissed AAP's allegations, claiming that the party was attempting to distract from the scrutiny it would face over the CAG reports.

"These people are just scared of CAG reports. That is why they are creating chaos. They don't have any issue but they can't escape it (discussion on CAG reports)," he remarked.

"Today, they are talking about Bhagat Singh and Ambedkar. Whose photos did they remove when they came to power? Bhagat Singh and Ambedkar are revered, but so is Mahatma Gandhi. Why did they remove Mahatma Gandhi's photo then?" Lovely questioned.