NEW DELHI: Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta on Monday took a dig at Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Anil Jha Vats over a viral video showing him sitting in his undergarments while signing documents for people in his constituency.The video, which has surfaced on social media, shows the AAP MLA from Kirari in northwest Delhi seated cross-legged in a chair, wearing a vest and shorts, with a saffron cloth draped across his lap.The video was reportedly recorded while Jha was signing application forms from constituents for a Delhi government scheme providing financial assistance to women. Several people, including women, can be seen waiting in a queue in front of Jha’s desk as he signs the documents.Referring to the video during the Monsoon Session of the Delhi assembly, Rekha Gupta criticised the MLA over his attire and said public representatives should maintain decorum, particularly when interacting with women constituents.“Your behaviour is shameful. You should at least dress properly when women come to you to get their papers signed,” the chief minister said.“Tell them to get the signboard removed in such a situation. I saw their reel. Delhi’s people are questioning you. You should be ashamed. I have seen the recordings. This is not how a Vishakhyak (public representative) should behave,” she added.The BJP leader further said that the dignity and respect of women must be protected in public life and that indecent behaviour or objectionable gestures towards women were inconsistent with democratic values and the dignity of the House.She added that protecting women’s dignity was the collective responsibility of all elected representatives and said the Delhi government was committed to safeguarding the rights and dignity of women.Rekha also accused Jha of making obscene gestures during the assembly proceedings and demanded action against him.“The House is the supreme forum for democratic decorum and dignity. The uncivil behavior of the Aam Aadmi Party and their MLA will not be tolerated under any circumstances. A complaint will be lodged at the appropriate level in this regard,” she said while speaking to reporters.Anil Jha Vats denied allegationJha denied the chief minister’s allegation and challenged her to produce video evidence of him making any such gestures.
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“Let them show it, bring out the video, what did I say? Their people discuss so many things here, but the Chief Minister does not say anything about that. When the history of the future is written and such instances of bias are discussed, there will be big question marks over them. No one made any gesture…” he said.The chief minister also launched a broader attack on the previous AAP government, alleging that it had carried out scams worth more than Rs 30,000 crore, the burden of which was now being borne by Delhi residents.“If I start listing the chain of scams, you would get tired of hearing scam after scam. Sheesh Mahal scam, liquor scam, classroom scam, arbitration scam, tuition fee scam, hospital scam, e-way bill scam, subsidy scam, advertisement scam,” Rekha said.The exchange comes amid a political confrontation between the BJP-led Delhi government and the opposition AAP during the ongoing Monsoon Session of the assembly.
