Congress Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi struck a sharp note on Monday, labeling the BJP a political force that has ceased to fear electoral accountability. The attack came hours after a video surfaced on social media showing Delhi PWD Minister Parvesh Verma allegedly slapping a young man in Tilak Nagar. The man was recording a road inspection when the incident occurred. Gandhi did not mince words. "A government that takes victory for granted doesn't need your consent - it demands your silence and blind devotion," he said, framing the slap as a symptom of systemic arrogance rather than an isolated outburst.
The incident unfolded during a site visit where AAP MLA Jarnail Singh, representing Tilak Nagar, was physically inspecting the quality of newly laid asphalt. Singh pulled out sections of the road surface by hand to demonstrate poor construction standards. A bystander recorded the exchange. Verma, present at the scene, allegedly reacted to the camera by slapping the young man. The clip, shared by Singh, ignited a firestorm. AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal quickly called for Verma's arrest, alleging the minister lost his composure after residents challenged the integrity of the public works.
Verma pushed back hard, dismissing the viral clip as a manipulated narrative stripped of context. He alleged that Singh had demanded a commission from the road contractor before the visit. According to Verma, Singh later called AAP workers to the site where they abused the minister and his family. "I reacted in a manner any common man would do," Verma said, insisting the Delhi government will now subject road works to independent audits, including core-cutting tests, to verify quality. He warned that obstructing government projects or seeking bribes would not be tolerated.
The exchange highlights a deepening fracture in Delhi politics, where infrastructure quality has become a proxy for ideological warfare. While the AAP positions the slap as evidence of authoritarian overreach, the ruling party frames it as resistance to corruption. The next move lies with the Delhi Police, which is yet to file a formal complaint or initiate an investigation into the alleged assault.