Atishi at DCW Over Offensive Pamphlets ‘Circulated by Gambhir’

The pamphlet says Atishi is a “good example of mixed breed” and that she was married to a “beef eater.”

BJP and AAP’s East Delhi candidates Gautam Gambhir and Atishi.

(Photo: Altered by The Quint)

A day after AAP's East Delhi candidate Atishi filed a complaint with the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) over ‘derogatory and casteist’ pamphlets against her, a newspaper vendor told The Indian Express that he had been paid to insert 300 such pamphlets inside newspapers distributed in Yojana Vihar and Savita Vihar.

The newspaper vendor said that he had received 300 pamphlets from a vendor on Thursday, which he inserted between the newspapers. "My employees then distributed them to homes across A and C blocks, Yojana Vihar, and some houses in Savita Vihar,” he said, according to The Indian Express.

However, the general secretary of the Newspaper Vendor Association Ramakant has denied giving the pamphlets to newspaper vendors.

Atishi on Friday, filed a complaint, alleging Bharatiya Janata Party’s Gautam Gambhir of orchestrating the smear campaign.

Speaking to ANI, Atishi said that she will approach the Election Commission and the Delhi Police. Hiitng out at Gambhir, Atishi said:

“If BJP and Gautam Gambhir can do this to an empowered woman then how will he ensure the security of the rest of the women? We have filed a complaint with DCW and we will soon file a complaint with the EC and Delhi Police.”

Atishi, AAP

Atishi Breaks Down While Addressing Press Conference

Earlier on 9 May, addressing a press conference, Atishi broke down, stating that the pamphlet has shown how low the BJP can stoop.

The pamphlet says that Atishi is a “good example of mixed breed,” was married to a “beef eater” and that she was “caught red handed while having sex in a compromising position with another teacher.”

It also claims that “Atishi will also give birth to Sisodia’s son.”

Gambhir Sends Defamation Notice

Gambhir has sent a defamation notice to Atishi, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia over their allegations that he had distributed the offensive pamphlet.

Earlier on Thursday, soon after Atishi’s allegations, Gambhir had threatened to file a defamation notice against them.

“I will definitely file a defamation case against them. You can't tarnish someone's image just like that, if you don't have the proof. I have never given a negative statement against anyone so far in my election campaigning,” said Gambhir, speaking to ANI.

He had also stated that he would withdraw his candidature if proven guilty, putting the onus of the pamphlet on Kejirwal.

Senior AAP leader and Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said the pamphlet has shown how low Gambhir would stoop to win the election.

“We would clap for Gambhir when he used to bash opponents with fours and sixes while playing for India but we never in our worst dream, had thought that this man would stoop this low to win an election.” 

Manish Sisodia, Delhi Deputy CM

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal said “how can women expect safety if people wid such mentality are voted in? (sic)”

BJP Condemns Pamphlet, Denies Links

Speaking to The Quint, Delhi BJP Spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor condemned the pamphlet and said he cannot “assume of even speaking or writing such things.”

“The BJP has no association with the pamphlet. This is a product of the dirty tricks department of the AAP. Whenever in the last six years, they have sensed defeat, they have resorted to such tricks. From day one, Atishi was trying to destabilise the election campaign and this is one more trick,” said Kapoor.

He challenged the AAP to go to Delhi Police, to the Central Bureau of Investigation or the High Court to prove that BJP was behind the pamphlet.

“Let them go to the Delhi Police, to the CBI. Let them go to High Court. If they prove we have done it, we will quit,” he said.

DCW Takes Cognizance

The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) took suo-motu cognisance and has written to East Delhi DCP over reports of the pamphlet being circulated on Atishi.

They have asked the Delhi Police to submit a report by 11 May on whether an FIR has been registered, the accused identified and arrested and the then current status of investigation.