A political row erupted in Delhi on Sunday after a video surfaced on social media showing PWD Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh Varma slapping a man who was recording a road inspection in west Delhi's Tilak Nagar.
The incident, captured in a video shared by local AAP MLA Jarnail Singh on social media, took place when the minister was inspecting a newly laid road in the area. The MLA questioned the quality of the work and pulled out portions of the road surface by hand. A man standing nearby and recording the proceedings was then slapped by the minister.
The man allegedly slapped by Verma identified himself as Saheb Singh and said he was an associate of Jarnail Singh. He said he handled the MLA's social media work and was at the site after the PWD department called them to inspect the road.
"We came here after the PWD department called us to inspect the condition of this road. I showed him how the road surface was breaking apart. When this was pointed out, the minister (Parvesh) couldn't handle it," Saheb said.
"I was recording a video of the inspection when Parvesh Verma snatched my phone and raised his hand at me, which is clearly visible in the video. His security personnel held my hand and grabbed me by the neck, and pulled me away... The police were present right there, and all of this happened in their presence," he said.
"He must apologize, and whatever disciplinary action is required—such as suspension—should be taken... We aren't just making claims; there is video evidence of everything. Action must be taken. We have lodged an FIR and will pursue further action," Saheb added.
According to police, Saheb Singh has lodged a complaint against the minister at the Vikaspuri Police Station.
Parvesh, however, alleged that the man had abused his family members. He also accused Jarnail Singh of seeking a commission in the road repair work and said that an FIR would be registered in this regard.
"When his (AAP MLA's) worker abused my family, I did what any person would do after getting angry," the minister said in a video message posted by the Delhi BJP on X.
In the video message, Parvesh Singh said the clip circulated by the Aam Aadmi Party was presented without context and accused the local AAP MLA of demanding a commission from the road contractor. "MLA Jarnail Singh had complained of poor road construction work, and when I visited the spot, I requested the AAP MLA to also come there," he said.
However, the PWD minister alleged that Singh called AAP workers to the site and they abused him and his family, which led him to react in a manner any common man would. He also said the Delhi government would get its road works independently audited, including through core-cutting tests, to establish the quality of construction.
He asserted that attempts to obstruct government work or demand commissions would not be tolerated, while claiming that several roads in Delhi were being constructed after remaining neglected for years.
Security around the minister's residence has been beefed up following the incident.
The incident triggered demands from AAP leaders for Parvesh Singh's arrest, with party chief Arvind Kejriwal alleging that the minister lost his composure after local residents questioned the quality of the road.
Kejriwal, the former Delhi chief minister, shared the video on X and said that he would visit Tilak Nagar on Monday to inspect the road.
"A minister in Modi's government publicly slapped a young man for highlighting corruption in road construction. I will visit Tilak Nagar tomorrow to inspect this road... Arrest the minister," Kejriwal said on X.
In the video shared by Jarnail Singh, he alleged that Parvesh Singh had no response when questioned about the quality of the road and instead slapped the man recording the proceedings.
AAP Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj alleged that when Jarnail Singh and local residents pulled out the road material by hand, Parvesh Singh could not respond to their questions and instead slapped the man. He further alleged that the minister left the spot afterwards.
AAP leader and Leader of Opposition Atishi alleged that public money had been spent on constructing a "poor quality" road and demanded that the Delhi Police immediately arrest the minister.
AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh contrasted the incident with the 10-year tenure of the Kejriwal government, saying AAP ministers and leaders used to meet people, listen to their problems and address their concerns.
He accused the BJP government of failing to respect people who question alleged corruption.
AAP MLA Kuldeep Kumar accused Parvesh Singh of "acting like a goon rather than a minister" and demanded immediate police action against him.
(With inputs from PTI and ANI)
