New Delhi: Delhi PWD Minister Parvesh Verma has faced allegations from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) after a video circulated online purportedly showed him slapping a young man during a road inspection in the Tilak Nagar Assembly constituency on Sunday, September 27.
AAP MLA from Tilak Nagar Jarnail Singh alleged that the incident occurred when the minister was inspecting road construction work in the area. A video shared by AAP appeared to show Verma pulling down the young man's mobile phone with one hand while appearing to strike him with the other.
The young man, identified as Saheb, later told The Times of India that he was at the site after the Public Works Department had called people to assess the condition of the road. He alleged that he had shown Verma portions of the road surface that were breaking apart before the alleged confrontation. Saheb also claimed that he had approached the police and that an FIR had been lodged.
AAP targets Parvesh Verma
Jarnail Singh alleged that Verma lost his temper after questions were raised about the condition of the road.
Former Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal shared the video on X and called for action against the minister. He also announced that he would visit Tilak Nagar to inspect the road.
AAP Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj also criticised the alleged incident and called for action against Verma.
The AAP's Delhi unit separately circulated the video and alleged that the incident occurred while the condition of the road was being questioned.
Allegation remains disputed
The video has triggered a political dispute between the BJP and AAP. The footage circulating online shows a physical interaction between Verma and the young man, but the video alone does not establish the full circumstances leading up to the incident.
Verma had not issued an official response to the allegations at the time of reporting. The young man's account and the political claims made by AAP remain allegations pending the outcome of any police investigation.
The incident comes as the Delhi government continues to face scrutiny from opposition parties over the condition and construction of roads in the capital.
