NEW DELHI: Delhi PWD Minister Parvesh Verma was seen allegedly slapping a man during a road inspection in Tilak Nagar on Sunday.In the video shared by AAP leaders, Verma can be seen pulling down the man’s mobile phone with his left hand and slapping him across the face with his right hand.The man, identified as Saheb, then appears to confront the minister before a security guard steps between them. Several people can be seen gathered around the two.“Oye maar kaise raha hai (How are you hitting),” a man can be heard saying in the video.The incident took place while Verma was inspecting a road in the area.Speaking to ANI, Saheb said he handles social media activities for the local MLA and had come to the spot after the PWD department called them to inspect the condition of the road.“I showed him how the road surface was breaking apart. When this was pointed out, the Minister couldn’t handle it; he raised his hand against me, and his associates threatened to kill me,” he said.Saheb alleged that police personnel were present when the incident took place.“He must apologise, and whatever disciplinary action is required – such as suspension – should be taken,” Saheb said, adding that there was video evidence of the incident.“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,” he said.AAP MLA Jarnail Singh, who represents Tilak Nagar, also shared a video of the incident and accused Verma of assaulting the man who was recording the proceedings.Singh said he had accompanied Verma during the road inspection and pointed out portions of the road where the surface was coming off. He alleged that instead of taking action over the road’s condition, Verma slapped the person recording the incident.Singh also alleged that the SHO of Vikaspuri police station was present when the incident occurred and accused the officer of helping the minister leave the spot.“We have called the emergency number – 112 – to report this,” Singh said in the video.Singh said he would remain at the spot until an FIR was registered and Verma was arrested. He also called on the Delhi Police Commissioner to take action against the minister under the law.Former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal also shared Singh’s video and called for Verma’s arrest.
Parvesh Verma reveals the ‘truth behind’ video
Verma, responding to the video, said people should know the “truth behind” what he described as a video being circulated by the Aam Aadmi Party.He alleged that road construction work had been underway on the Vikaspuri Ring Road for several days and claimed that Jarnail Singh had been pressuring PWD engineers to introduce him to the contractor and arrange a commission for him.Verma said a PWD engineer had lodged a complaint at a police station and was getting an FIR registered.He further alleged that Singh would visit the site after roadwork was completed at night, tear up the newly laid road and record videos alleging corruption because he had not received a commission.Verma said he had stopped at the site on Sunday to inspect the road and found that the work was progressing well. He said local residents told him the road had not been built for 15 years.“I personally called the local MLA, Jarnail Singh, three times. I waited for him for 45 minutes. I had not called any of our own party workers to the site,” Verma said.He alleged that Singh arrived with his own workers and “immediately began behaving rudely”.“When one of his workers started hurling abuses at my family, I reacted just as anyone would in the heat of the moment,” Verma said.“I want to tell the Aam Aadmi Party that our government is doing today what you failed to accomplish; that is why it is causing you such heartburn,” he added.
