Atishi claims Gambhir circulating vulgar pamphlets, he says Kejriwal 'stage-managing'

Aam Aadmi Party’s East Delhi candidate Atishi on May 9 broke down during a press conference as her party accused her BJP rival Gautam Gambhir of distributing a pamphlet containing “obscene and derogatory” remarks against her.

Gambhir, however, has vehemently denied the charge and said he will quit the race if the allegation was proved. The BJP, on its part, has once again accused the AAP of stage-managing the incident, “as always”.

According to Atishi, the pamphlets containing derogatory remarks on her as well as her family were distributed by the BJP at housing complexes. “I had welcomed Gambhir myself when he joined politics but I never imagined that he would stoop to this level in the Lok Sabha polls,” she said.

“I have only one question for Gautam Gambhir. If he is doing this against one woman, what about the lakhs of women in east Delhi who are worried about their safety,” Atishi said.

The Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said he “never imagined u Gambhir to stoop so low”.

Never imagined Gautam Gambhir to stoop so low. How can women expect safety if people wid such mentality are voted in? Atishi, stay strong. I can imagine how difficult it must be for u. It is precisely this kind of forces we have to fight against. — @ArvindKejriwal

Atishi, who was accompanied by Deputy Delhi Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, broke down even as she read out the pamphlet in front of mediapersons. Sisodia alleged that the pamphlets were kept in newspapers and distributed in apartment complexes.

Meanwhile, Gambhir, in a series of tweets, said he is “ashamed” to have a chief minister like Arvind Kejriwal and that he would withdraw his candidature if this charge is proved.

I abhor your act of outraging a woman’s modesty @ArvindKejriwal and that too your own colleague. And all this for winning elections? U r filth Mr CM and someone needs ur very own झाड़ू to clean ur dirty mind. —  @GautamGambhir

In a series of tweets, Gambhir also said: “I feel ashamed to have a CM like Arvind Kejriwal.”

A day earlier, Atishi, who is locked in a three-way fight with Gambhir and Congress’ Arvinder Singh Lovely from East Delhi, said Gambhir was proving to be a “novice” whose celebrity status will go against him.

The Oxford graduate, who says the BJP is her main opponent and the Congress is number three in the race, had earlier accused Gambhir of possessing two voter ID cards.

Gambhir, meanwhile, landed in a soup last month after the Delhi Police filed a case against him for holding an election rally without permission.