A political row erupted in Delhi on Sunday after Public Works Department (PWD) minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Parvesh Verma was seen slapping a man, later identified as Saheb Singh, who was recording a road inspection in west Delhi’s Vikaspuri.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) alleged that the incident followed questions over the quality of road construction, while Verma said he reacted after AAP workers allegedly abused his family.
He questioned why the station house officer of Vikaspuri police station, who was present at the spot, did not apprehend the minister. “This road should be investigated by the Central Bureau Of Investigation. Verma later posted a three-minute video on X defending his actions. “What happened in Vikaspuri was unfortunate and the PWD minister has himself termed it wrong. His conduct created a commotion. “A minister in (PM Narendra) Modi ji’s government publicly slapped a young man for highlighting corruption in road construction… Arrest this minister. “Ask a question on the street – a slap. Ask a question on paper leaks – a lathi charge. Ask a question in Parliament – the mic is switched off. He also alleged that he was manhandled by Verma’s bodyguard who grabbed him by the neck. I was recording a video when Parvesh Verma snatched my phone and raised his hand at me, which is clearly visible in the video.
Singh arrived around 45 minutes later, Verma said. However, MLA Jarnail Singh should explain why, despite being informed in advance, he arrived 45 minutes late with a crowd.
Singh said Saheb Singh was associated with his team and was recording the proceedings when the confrontation occurred. All the videos of the incident from the moment he arrived at the spot are available for everyone to see,” Singh said. He said he had stopped to inspect construction work while passing through the area and had called Singh “three times” to meet him. The Delhi unit of the BJP said the situation was “unfortunate”. The circumstances raise questions about whether the confrontation was deliberately provoked,” said Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor. “This is the face of a power that no longer fears the voters,” Gandhi said on X. Earlier reporting noted: Saheb Singh, who was assaulted by Verma, said, “We had come here for an inspection after Parvesh Verma called the MLA (Jarnail Singh) and asked him to show where the road was damaged. Earlier reporting noted: According to AAP MLA Jarnail Singh, the victim was a colleague who was recording the video during a road inspection. The MLA said he had received a call from BJP PWD minister Parvesh Verma, who had come to inspect the road and asked him to show the damages.
Earlier reporting noted: ‘Grabbed by neck, threatened to kill me’: Man slapped by Parvesh Verma alleges assault by ‘BJP workers’ After a video of Delhi minister Parvesh Verma slapping a young man went viral, the victim alleged that workers linked to the BJP leader threatened to kill him. I will visit Tilak Nagar tomorrow to inspect this road,” Kejriwal said on X.
Delhi Congress president Devendra Yadav said BJP ministers should answer questions from the public through their work, while Congress leader Alka Lamba also criticised the incident.
