Delhi AAP President Saurabh Bhardwaj stated on Monday that no First Information Report (FIR) had been registered against Delhi Public Works Department Minister Parvesh Verma two days after an alleged slapping incident during a road inspection in Tilak Nagar.
Bhardwaj, together with AAP MLAs and councillors, were detained by Delhi Police while protesting outside Vikaspuri Police Station, demanding that an FIR be filed against Verma.
The protest followed the circulation of a purported video alleging that Verma slapped a local youth during the inspection.
Speaking before the detention, Bhardwaj said: “When Jarnail Singh–in the presence of Minister Parvesh Verma and the camera–demonstrated the poor quality of the road by breaking off a piece with his hands to expose the corruption and embezzlement of funds in road construction, Parvesh Verma flew into a rage. He attacked the cameraman, snatched his phone, slapped him, and attempted to destroy the evidence of corruption; when the young man Lunged back towards him, yet no FIR has been filed against Jarnail Singh. That is why these FIRs are being filed right here. “We have already made it clear that if the police misbehave with our women tonight–as they did yesterday–we will stage a sit-in at the Police Commissioner’s office.”
On Sunday, a youth who alleged he was slapped by the Delhi PWD Minister said the minister “could not handle” the reality of the poor road conditions and assaulted him after snatching his phone.
Speaking to ANI, the youth, Sahib Singh, stated that Verma did not expect the condition of the road to come to light and assaulted him during the incident. He said: “Parvesh Verma had no idea he would be exposed. He did not expect the reality of the road to come to light. At that moment, the MLA picked up a piece of the road, and it crumbled in his hand like a ‘papad’… he couldn’t handle it. He snatched my phone, twisted my arm, and slapped me. Afterwards, he had the BJP goons accompanying him beat and threaten me; he issued threats himself as well.”
Singh questioned the incident, asking: “Can no one even ask a question these days? What are the youth of the country supposed to do?”
He further alleged that while the police accepted his complaint, no FIR had been registered against Verma. He added: “A copy of our complaint was accepted, but an FIR is not being registered against the Minister. We demand that, at the very least, an FIR be registered against him, and appropriate further action be taken.”