The political atmosphere in Delhi has turned tense following allegations by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government removed the portraits of Dr B.R. Ambedkar and Shaheed Bhagat Singh from the Chief Minister’s office.
AAP leaders have accused the ruling party of showing disregard for two iconic figures by replacing their photos with those of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Droupadi Murmu, and Mahatma Gandhi.
AAP leader Atishi shared pictures on social media, claiming that the previous government had prominently displayed images of Ambedkar and Bhagat Singh in the office. She argued that their removal was proof of BJP’s “anti-Dalit” and “anti-Sikh” mentality.
Her party colleague and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal also expressed disappointment, stating that the act had hurt millions of Ambedkar’s followers. He urged the BJP to reconsider, emphasising that while the Prime Minister’s photo could be placed, Ambedkar’s should remain as well.
However, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta dismissed these claims, asserting that the allegations were merely a distraction from AAP’s misdeeds and corruption. She questioned whether the photos of the President and the Prime Minister should not be displayed in the Chief Minister’s office.
Gupta further stated that Ambedkar and Bhagat Singh were highly respected figures and that their images had not been removed but placed in a different position within the room.
A video from the office showed photographs of Mahatma Gandhi, President Murmu, and Prime Minister Modi prominently displayed behind Gupta’s seat, while the images of Ambedkar and Bhagat Singh were positioned on opposite walls.
The BJP has insisted that there was no attempt to sideline these national icons, arguing that the controversy was being deliberately stirred up by AAP to divert attention from critical issues.
The debate has gained significance as it coincides with the first session of the Delhi Assembly after the BJP’s return to power, ending AAP’s decade-long rule.
One of the key agendas of the session is the presentation of the pending Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) reports on the performance of the previous AAP government.
BJP MLA Arvinder Singh Lovely alleged that AAP leaders were raising the issue of photo removals because they feared the revelations in the upcoming reports. He accused them of attempting to create unnecessary disruptions to shift focus away from their governance failures.
Lovely also questioned AAP’s own past actions, asking why they had removed Mahatma Gandhi’s portrait when they took office.
He argued that while Ambedkar and Bhagat Singh were revered figures, Gandhi also deserved equal respect. His remarks sought to turn the debate around by pointing out inconsistencies in AAP’s position.
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