Delhi Chief Minister Atishi broke down during a press conference on Monday, condemning BJP’s Ramesh Bidhuri for his recent remarks about her father. Atishi criticized Bidhuri for resorting to “dirty politics,” citing her father’s age and health.
Ramesh Bidhuri is fielded from Kalkaji against Atishi in the upcoming Delhi polls from BJP. He claimed that Atishi had “changed her father.” He stated, “This Marlena (surname used earlier by Atishi) became Singh, changed name. Kejriwal swore over his children not to go with the corrupt Congress, Marlena changed father. Earlier she was Marlena, now she has become Singh. This is their character.”
Atishi’s Emotional Response
In an emotional response during the press conference, Atishi defended her father and stated, “He is using my father, who is old and needs support even to walk, for political gain.” She expressed her sadness over the BJP leader’s remarks, emphasizing that such tactics were deeply hurtful and inappropriate. “I want to tell Ramesh Bidhuri, my father was a teacher throughout his life, he has taught thousands of children coming from poor and lower-middle-class families, now he is 80 years old…now he is really ill that he can’t even walk without help,” she said.
She further expressed her anger, questioning, “Will you (Ramesh Bidhuri) do such a dirty thing for the sake of election? He has come down to the situation where he is abusing an old man. I never thought that this country’s politics could stoop so low.”
AAP’s Reaction
Bidhuri’s remarks drew ire from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as well. Party’s national convenor Arvind Kejriwal strongly reacted, slamming Bidhuri and BJP. “BJP leaders have crossed all limits of shamelessness. BJP leaders are abusing Delhi Chief Minister Atishi Ji,” he said. Further, calling for ‘revenge’, he had added, “The people of Delhi will not tolerate the insult of a woman Chief Minister. All the women of Delhi will take revenge for this.”
Bidhuri made the controversial statement during campaigning in the Kalkaji constituency on Saturday, according to one of his aides.
