Atishi, Gambhir in spat over pamphlet, Gautam Gambhir files defamation case NEW DELHI: The Aam Aadmi Party candidate for East Delhi Lok Sabha constituency, Atishi Marlena, alleged on Thursday that BJP candidate Gautam Gambhir and his team have distributed pamphlets which contain extremely obscene and derogatory remarks against her.The pamphlet also targets chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and deputy CM Manish Sisodia . The charge evoked a strong reaction from Gambhir, who not only hurled a counter-allegation at Kejriwal but also announced that he would withdraw from the contest if it was proved that this was his handiwork.Addressing a press conference, an emotional Atishi said she was extremely sad to see how politics in the country had fallen so low. "I had welcomed Gautam Gambhir when he was fielded by BJP, and when I met him during nominations, I told him that good people should come to politics because it is good for the country," she said. But the moment she started reading out from the pamphlet, she broke down. After having a glass of water, she resumed reading, but broke down once again.East Delhi DM and returning officer K Mahesh has asked Delhi Police to lodge an FIR in connection with an offensive pamphlet being distributed against AAP candidate Atishi, and start an investigation to find out who distributed the pamphlet.The FIR, he said, will be lodged against unknown persons. Delhi Commission for Women had taken suo motu cognizance of the matter and written to DCP, East, seeking a report.The pamphlet called Atishi a beef eater and an example of mixed breed because, it claimed, her father was a Jat from UP, mother a Punjabi and husband a Christian from Andhra Pradesh. Atishi has clarified in the past that she belongs to a Punjabi Rajput family. The remaining content - much more offensive and abusive - is not worth reproducing. "Never imagined Gautam Gambhir to stoop so low. How can women expect safety if people wid (sic) such mentality are voted in?" Kejriwal had tweeted. In a tweet, Gambhir said: "I declare that if its proven that I did it, I will withdraw my candidature right now. If not, will you (Kejriwal) quit politics?"<doc-sep>BJP's East Delhi candidate Gautam Gambhir sent a notice to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and Atishi on Thursday demanding their apology after being accused of being involved in distribution of "obscene and derogatory" pamphlets against his AAP rival. In the notice, the trio was asked to withdraw their allegations against the cricketer-turned-politician and tender an unconditional apology. Earlier in the day, Gambhir had said he would withdraw from the Lok Sabha contest if the charge was proved against him. "I declare that if its proven that I did it, I will withdraw my candidature right now. If not, will u quit politics?," he said in a tweet addressed to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Kejriwal and Atishi, the party candidate from East Delhi. Atishi broke down reading a pamphlet containing "obscene and derogatory" remarks against her on Thursday. She alleged that the pamphlets were distributed in the constituency by her Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rival. Gambhir slammed Kejriwal in a series of tweets, saying he was "ashamed" to have him as the chief minister of Delhi. I feel ashamed to have a CM like @ArvindKejriwal — Chowkidar Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) May 9, 2019 The political atmosphere in the national capital vitiated hours before the poll campaigning concluded on Friday evening, with the BJP and the AAP indulging in a bitter blame game. "I abhor your act of outraging a woman's modesty @ArvindKejriwal and that too your own colleague. And all this for winning elections? U r filth Mr CM and someone needs ur very own Jhadu (broom) to clean ur dirty mind," Gambhir tweeted. I abhor your act of outraging a woman’s modesty @ArvindKejriwal and that too your own colleague. And all this for winning elections? U r filth Mr CM and someone needs ur very own à¤ÂÂà¤¾à¤¡à¤¼à¥ÂÂ to clean ur dirty mind. — Chowkidar Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) May 9, 2019 In a statement, the political greenhorn had earlier said there were five women in his family and that he would not resort to such "petty" politics. "I will not let the AAP leaders go scotfree. I will file defamation suit against them," he had said. Atishi has alleged that the pamphlets containing derogatory remarks about her as well as her family were distributed by the BJP at housing complexes in East Delhi. "I had welcomed Gambhir myself when he joined politics but I never imagined that he would stoop to this level in the Lok Sabha polls," she said. AAP leaders slammed Gambhir on social media and other platforms, with Kejriwal saying he never imagined that the BJP nominee would "stoop so low" while urging Atishi to stay strong. Gambhir claimed that the "petty politics" exhibited by the AAP was the reason why people with good intentions stayed away from mainstream politics. (PTI) For in-depth, objective and more importantly balanced journalism, Click here to subscribe to Outlook Magazine<doc-sep>
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Gautam Gambhir has circulated a pamphlet about Atishi containing abusive language. Credited with reforming the educational infrastructure in the national capital, Atishi is AAP's candidate against Gambhir in the East Delhi constituency. In a press conference, where Atishi broke down after reading the content of the pamphlet, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia said, "Language in this pamphlet is so abusive and low that everybody will feel ashamed while reading it." Later, Aatishi asked Gambhir how the former cricketer would ensure the safety of women in his constituency if he can stoop so low to defeat a strong woman like me. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal stood by Atishi, and in a tweet wrote he never imagined "Gautam Gambhir would stoop so low". Never imagined Gautam Gambhir to stoop so low. How can women expect safety if people wid such mentality are voted in? Atishi, stay strong. I can imagine how difficult it must be for u. It is precisely this kind of forces we have to fight against. https://t.co/vcYObWNK6y — Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) May 9, 2019 "How can women expect safety if people wid such mentality are voted in? Atishi, stay strong. I can imagine how difficult it must be for u. It is precisely this kind of forces we have to fight against," Kejriwal wrote. Gambhir took to Twitter to dismiss AAP's allegations and declared he would withdraw his candidature if it is proven that he was behind the circulation of offensive pamphlets. The former cricketer also took aim at Kejriwal, alleging that the Delhi CM was behind the entire episode. My Challenge no.2 @ArvindKejriwal @AtishiAAP I declare that if its proven that I did it, I will withdraw my candidature right now. If not, will u quit politics? — Chowkidar Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) May 9, 2019 "I am ashamed that I have a CM like Kejriwal," he wrote in another tweet. For in-depth, objective and more importantly balanced journalism, Click here to subscribe to Outlook Magazine