Delhi CM Office: Ambedkar Photo Row

Aakhir Tak – In Shorts

AAP and BJP clash over the removal of Ambedkar’s photo from Delhi CM’s office!
AAP accuses BJP of anti-Dalit mentality.
Kejriwal says BJP removed Ambedkar’s photo and put up Modi’s.
BJP denies allegations, accuses AAP of hiding corruption.
The controversy comes as the Delhi Assembly’s first session is held.

Aakhir Tak – In Depth

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The opposition AAP and ruling BJP in Delhi sparred after the former alleged that photos of Dr. BR Ambedkar and Bhagat Singh were taken down from the Chief Minister’s office. This has sparked a significant controversy and heated political debate.

The AAP on Monday alleged that the ruling BJP government in Delhi took down the photos of Dr. BR Ambedkar and Bhagat Singh from the Chief Minister’s office and replaced them with those of Mahatma Gandhi, President Droupadi Murmu, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Reacting to the claim, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said AAP was trying to hide its “corruption and misdeeds” by making such allegations. This has become a central point of contention between the two parties.

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Earlier today, Atishi tweeted pictures showing the photos of Ambedkar and Bhagat Singh on display when she was in office and another with portraits of Mahatma Gandhi, President Murmu, and PM Modi with Gupta in the Chief Minister’s office. These visual comparisons have fueled the debate further.

“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,” she said at a press conference. This statement directly accuses the BJP of discriminatory practices.

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Voicing her party colleague’s sentiments, Kejriwal asserted that the ‘removal’ of Ambedkar’s photo had hurt millions of the Dalit icon’s followers. This appeal to a specific voter base highlights the political implications of the controversy.

“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 tweeted.

However, Chief Minister Gupta, who was having a meeting with her ministers and BJP MLAs, said such claims by AAP were a tactic to hide their corruption and misdeeds. The BJP’s response directly refutes the AAP’s claims and shifts the focus to alleged wrongdoings by the previous government.

“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 news agency ANI.

In a video, photos of Mahatma Gandhi, President Murmu, and PM Modi were put up behind where she was sitting, while the photos of Ambedkar and Bhagat Singh were placed on opposite sides. This visual arrangement has become a key piece of evidence in the ongoing debate.

The controversy comes as the first Delhi Assembly session was held today after the BJP ended AAP’s 10-year rule and came back to power after 27 years in the February 5 elections. During the three-day session, the pending CAG reports on the performance of the previous AAP government will be tabled in the House. The timing of the controversy coincides with a crucial legislative session.

Hitting back at AAP’s claim of photos of Ambedkar and Bhagat Singh being removed, BJP MLA Arvinder Singh Lovely accused the Kejriwal-led party of being “scared” as the CAG reports would be tabled in the Assembly session. This further underscores the link between the photo controversy and the upcoming legislative proceedings.

“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 said.

“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, and so is Mahatma Gandhi. Why did they remove Mahatma Gandhi’s photo then?” Lovely asked. This counter-accusation seeks to undermine AAP’s credibility on the issue.

Aakhir Tak – Key Takeaways to Remember