‘Cheapsters’: Twitter Slams BJP Leaders Asking for Atishi’s ‘Pati’

People took to Twitter to make their feelings about the BJP leaders clear, tweeting support with #IStandWithAtishi.

People took to Twitter to make their feelings about the BJP leaders clear, tweeting their support with #IStandWithAtishi.

(Photo: Altered by The Quint)

AAP's East Delhi candidate Atishi on Thursday, 9 May, broke down while reading a pamphlet containing "obscene and derogatory" remarks against her, that she alleged has been distributed in the constituency by her BJP rival Gautam Gambhir.

The cricketer-turned-politician has denied the claims as the BJP, in turn, charged the AAP with staging such incidents.

Later, Gambhir sent a notice to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, his deputy Manish Sisodia and Atishi demanding that they withdraw the allegation and tender an unconditional apology over the matter.

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Friday, 10 May, retorted, “We are being defamed and they (BJP) are saying they will file defamation against us? We are going to send defamation notice to them today.”

Meanwhile, people took to Twitter to make their feelings about the video clear, tweeting with #IStandWithAtishi to state their solidarity with the politician.

Congress member and LGBTQ right activist Harish Iyer termed them “cheapsters.”

Abhinandan Sekhri, co-founder and CEO of Newslaundry, took to Twitter to point out that while the BJP was claiming that AAP was behind the pamphlet, Bajpayi was repeating the same accusation earnestly.

In the video, Anil Bajpayi, a former AAP member who recently left the party to join the BJP, lent credence to one of the claims made by the pamphlet, which said that Atishi’s husband was a beef-eater.

Bajpayi claimed that he had himself seen Atishi’s husband eat beef. He also went on to question why Atishi’s husband had not made his presence felt in the elections, asking, “Where is her husband?”

‘Who Are These People to Demand a Pati?’

Journalist and founder of Alt News Pratik Sinha questioned Gambhir’s decision to not condemn his party colleagues for their comments.

National Media Coordinator AAP Vikas Yogi tweeted out the video with a simple, “Hence proved, BJP has distributed pamphlet.”

AAP spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj tweeted that BJP men only chose to ask women these questions.

‘Sick People From BJP’

Many others took to Twitter to slam BJP and Gautam Gambhir, questioning their mentality.

Will Withdraw Candidature If Charges Proven, Says Gambhir

Gambhir, in a series of tweets, said he is "ashamed" to have Arvind Kejriwal as chief minister and he would withdraw his candidature if the charge against him is proved.

On Friday, Twitter erupted with a trending hashtag #IStandWithGambhir in support of Gautam Gambhir and hitting out at Atishi and AAP. Gambhir’s former colleagues and cricketer, Harbhajan Singh and VVS Laxman expressed “shock” and said that he “can never talk ill for any woman.”

(With inputs from PTI)