Delhi minister Parvesh Verma accused of slapping man who questioned road quality
A viral video from Delhi's Tilak Nagar shows PWD Minister Parvesh Verma allegedly slapping a man who questioned poor road quality, prompting AAP outrage.
A video from Delhi's Tilak Nagar area has sparked outrage online. On Sunday, September 27, PWD Minister Parvesh Verma had gone to inspect a road when a young man approached him, pointed to a damaged stretch of the road and asked why there were potholes and why the work was so shoddy.
The minister is alleged to have reacted to the question by slapping the man just below the ear. The incident was recorded on a mobile phone by someone present, and within a few hours the video had reached lakhs of people on social media.
The viral video shows Minister Parvesh Verma standing on the road with officials when a young man approaches and, pointing to the broken road, begins pointing out flaws in the work. The minister then loses his temper and raises his hand at the man. People standing nearby step in to intervene, and the young man backs away, visibly shaken.
The Aam Aadmi Party shared the video, claiming that some people were questioning the minister about alleged corruption in the road construction when the incident occurred. AAP directly targeted the BJP government over the matter, saying BJP ministers are suppressing the voice of the public, that ordinary people are being beaten for asking questions, and calling it dictatorship.
AAP has demanded immediate action against Minister Parvesh Verma and a public apology. The party said the people of Delhi have every right to ask questions, and that if road work is substandard, people will naturally ask about it. The BJP has not yet given a clear response on the matter. The minister's office has only said that the video should be viewed properly, calling it a misunderstanding.
There is strong anger among social media users. People are writing that they pay taxes, and if a road is bad they will ask questions, so should they be beaten for asking. Many have also said that politicians fold their hands before elections and raise their hands after winning them. The slap has triggered a major political storm in Delhi, and all eyes are now on what action the government takes in the matter.
