Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta broke down emotionally in the Delhi Assembly on Friday, expressing deep anguish over what she described as relentless personal attacks and mockery by the opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Gupta said she was hurt by memes circulated on social media targeting minor verbal slips made during her speeches, accusing the opposition of focusing on ridicule rather than meaningful debate.
Addressing the House, the Chief Minister said that making inadvertent mistakes is a human trait, but her opponents had chosen to weaponize those moments for political gain. She cited instances where she accidentally mispronounced “AQI” as “AIQ” and once referred to “Congress” instead of “the British,” adding that these slips were blown out of proportion through memes and online trolling.
“When a word comes out wrong by mistake, they turn it into a joke and circulate memes. It hurts deeply,” Gupta said, her voice reflecting visible emotion. She emphasized that such mockery diverted attention from real governance issues and lowered the standard of political discourse in the Assembly.
Gupta went on to allege that the attacks were not merely political but stemmed from a deeper prejudice. She suggested that certain sections of the opposition were uncomfortable with the idea of a woman leading the national capital. According to her, the personal nature of the criticism reflected an inability to accept her leadership rather than genuine concern over policy or performance.
The Chief Minister also launched a sharp counterattack against the AAP, accusing the party of hypocrisy and deliberate betrayal of its own promises. She pointed out that while her mistakes were unintentional, the actions of AAP leaders were calculated and conscious.
“They made promises to the people that they would not take government cars, bungalows, or special facilities. But after coming to power, they enjoyed everything they had once opposed,” Gupta said. She further alleged that the party, which rose to prominence on an anti-corruption movement, had abandoned its founding principles.
Taking a dig at AAP’s governance record, Gupta claimed the party had “built a palace of corruption” after coming to power by capitalizing on public anger against graft. She said such actions betrayed the trust of citizens who had believed in the party’s promise of clean and transparent governance.
Reaffirming her government’s commitment, Gupta said she, her ministers, and BJP MLAs were working tirelessly on the ground to address the concerns of Delhi’s residents. She stressed that her administration remained accountable to the people and was focused on delivery rather than distractions.
“Our government is answerable to the people of Delhi. We are working day and night for them,” she said, urging the opposition to engage in constructive discussions instead of personal attacks.