In this screengrab from the video, Delhi PWD Minister Parvesh Verma is seen during an alleged altercation with Sahib Singh in New Delhi. Photo: PTI
Rahul attacks Parvesh Verma over slap video: ‘power no longer fears voters’
Delhi PWD minister defends himself, says AAP workers abused his family; police are examining complaints from both sides
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has hit out at Delhi Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Parvesh Verma over a video that appears to show the BJP leader slapping a man during a road inspection in West Delhi, saying the incident reflected a larger problem of a government that “no longer fears the voters”.
“A BJP minister from the Delhi government is seen slapping a young man in a video. His crime? He was making a video,” Rahul said in a post on X. “This is the face of a power that no longer fears the voters.”
Links to other rows
Rahul linked the incident to other recent controversies, saying, “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.”
Also read: Parvesh Verma ‘slaps’ man during road inspection; under fire, Delhi minister adds ‘context’
He then connected the incident to his allegations of “vote chori”, saying electoral victory had given the ruling party a sense of immunity from voters. “These people do this because they no longer fear that elections can remove them. Vote theft buys this — not just the result, but the arrogance that follows,” Rahul said.
Slapgate row
The Congress leader’s remarks came a day after a video of Verma appearing to slap a man during a road inspection in Tilak Nagar went viral. The man, identified as Sahib Singh, was recording the interaction between Verma and AAP MLA Jarnail Singh when the incident took place.
Verma, however, rejected Rahul’s criticism and asked him to stay away from the matter.
“Rahul ji, aap rehne do bhai, aapko kuch nahi pata” (Rahul ji, please leave it, you don’t know anything), Verma said in response.
What happened during road inspection?
Verma was inspecting a newly laid road in west Delhi when AAP MLA Jarnail Singh arrived at the spot and questioned the quality of the construction. Singh pulled out portions of the road surface by hand, after which a heated exchange followed.
A video from the spot shows Verma pulling down Sahib Singh’s mobile phone before appearing to slap him. Singh later said he was livestreaming the interaction on the MLA’s social media page. Delhi Police has received his complaint and is verifying the allegations.
Verma has defended his actions, alleging that AAP workers at the spot abused his family. He has also accused Jarnail Singh of seeking a commission in road-related works, while the AAP MLA has rejected the allegations.
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The incident has since triggered a political confrontation in Delhi, with AAP demanding action against the minister. Former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has also called for Verma’s arrest.
Lawyer alleges assault
Sahib Singh’s lawyer, Mankan Deep Singh Bammi, has alleged that the minister assaulted his client after he raised questions about the quality of road construction and alleged corruption.
Bammi claimed Singh was livestreaming the inspection when Verma approached him, snatched his phone and slapped him. He further alleged that several people accompanying the minister pushed and kicked Sahib Singh.
“When Sahib Singh tried to step forward and say something to Parvesh Verma, he was grabbed, held down, and prevented from even talking,” Bammi said, according to ANI.
The lawyer also alleged that Singh’s complaint was not immediately acted upon at the police station. Police, meanwhile, have said they are examining the complaints related to the incident.