‘Women coming for signatures, dress properly’: Delhi CM targets AAP MLA over viral video

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has sharply criticized AAP MLA Anil Jha Vats over a video that allegedly showed him dressed in a vest and shorts while signing documents for constituents. The footage, which gained traction on social media, depicts Vats seated cross-legged on a chair, with a saffron cloth draped across his lap. According to reports, the incident occurred while he was processing applications for the Delhi government’s financial assistance program aimed at supporting women. The video reportedly captured several individuals, including women, waiting in line to receive signatures on their forms. Speaking during the Monsoon Session of the Delhi Legislative Assembly, Gupta condemned Vats’ conduct, stating that public officials must uphold decorum, especially when dealing with female constituents. "Your behaviour is shameful. You should at least dress properly when women come to you to get their papers signed," she remarked. Gupta further demanded the cancellation of Vats’ Assembly membership, arguing that such indecent behavior could not be tolerated within the legislative body. In addition to criticizing his attire, Gupta accused Vats of making obscene gestures during the assembly proceedings. She urged authorities to take action against him, emphasizing the importance of maintaining dignity and respect for women in public spaces. "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," she stated. Vats responded to the allegations, denying any wrongdoing and challenging Gupta to provide video evidence of his alleged misconduct. "She should show the video of me making any wrong gestures. She doesn't have answers on people's problems, so she is making all these allegations," he asserted during the assembly session. Despite his denial, the controversy continues to unfold amidst heightened political tensions between the ruling BJP and the opposition AAP. The incident coincided with a separate protest organized by AAP MLAs, who accused the current BJP government of misappropriating subsidized rice meant for the city’s poor. During the demonstration, AAP legislators carried rice sacks into the assembly hall and raised slogans demanding accountability. They claimed that thousands of metric tons of rice intended for distribution to low-income families in Delhi had been diverted to a private company in Haryana. AAP Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj alleged that this diversion resulted in substantial financial losses and called for the resignation of Delhi’s food and civil supplies minister, Manjinder Singh Sirsa. Bharadwaj detailed the supposed arrangement between the Delhi government and an Assam-based corporation, which sought 31,000 metric tonnes of rice weekly for distribution to the needy. He contended that the rice never reached its intended recipients and was instead sold to a private entity in Haryana, generating illicit profits. These accusations have intensified the political rivalry between the two major parties in Delhi, with each side accusing the other of corruption and mismanagement. Meanwhile, Gupta has continued to press charges against the former AAP administration, citing numerous alleged scams involving large sums of money. She listed several high-profile cases, including the Sheesh Mahal scam, liquor scam, classroom scam, arbitration scam, tuition fee scam, hospital scam, e-way bill scam, and subsidy scam. Her remarks underscore the growing animosity between the current government and its predecessors, reflecting the deepening divide in Delhi’s political landscape. As the debate over governance and ethics intensifies, both sides remain entrenched in their positions, with neither party showing signs of backing down. The outcome of these disputes will likely shape the trajectory of Delhi’s political environment in the months ahead.