NEW DELHI: Delhi’s deputy CM and PWD minister Parvesh Verma slapped an aide of AAP MLA Jarnail Singh during a confrontation over a newly built road in west Delhi’s Vikaspuri on Sunday, after AAP workers alleged the road was breaking apart.A video of the incident showed Verma inspecting the road when Jarnail Singh and other AAP workers arrived to question its quality. They peeled off the bitumen layer, with Jarnail alleging it came off “like a carpet”.Sahib Singh, who later identified himself as the MLA’s social media handler, was seen walking alongside Verma and recording the inspection on his phone. As Singh moved closer, the minister reached towards the phone, apparently trying to move it away from his face, before slapping him.Police have detained AAP MLA Kuldeep Kumar and party workers who protested demanding Verma’s arrest.Oye maar kaise raha hai (How are you hitting?),” a man can be heard saying in the video. The minister’s security men subsequently moved him away.AAP protested against what it described as the minister’s misbehaviour and demanded his arrest.Minister Verma, in his defence, released a video. He alleged: “Road construction work has been under way on Vikaspuri Ring Road for the past several days. The local MLA, Jarnail Singh, had been pressuring PWD engineers to introduce him to the contractor and arrange for a commission for him. Our engineer has lodged a complaint at the police station and is getting an FIR registered. Because Jarnail Singh did not receive any commission, he would go to the site in the morning after the road was laid at night and tear it up; he would then record and post videos claiming that corruption was taking place.”He added, “When Jarnail Singh arrived, he came with his own workers who had been informed in advance, and he 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. I want to tell AAP that our govt is doing today what yours failed to accomplish; that is why it is causing you such heartburn.”Dismissing the minister’s allegations, AAP MLA Jarnail Singh said, “I thought he would inspect the road, check the quality, and perhaps take action against the PWD officials. When I showed him how the entire road surface was peeling off like a carpet, instead of taking action, he slapped the person who was recording the incident and fled the scene. We have called the emergency number—112—to report this.”He said SHO of Vikaspuri Police Station was present when this incident occurred and demanded that Delhi Police Commissioner take action against the minister. Police said two complaints have been filed. One was filed by the private road contractor alleging the MLA’s demand for Rs 50 lakh and threats, and another by Sahib Singh against the minister for the assault. Police said they are probing the two complaints, and no FIR has been registered. Sahib Singh said, “His security personnel held my hand and grabbed me by the neck, trying to press it, and pulled me away. Three-four BJP workers were also with him. They also misbehaved with me and threatened to kill me.”Sahib Singh is presently out on bail after being arrested in a case against him for assaulting an MCD employee in June, police said. AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal condemned the incident. He said, “A minister of Modi ji slapped a young man publicly for exposing corruption in road construction. I will go to Tilak Nagar tomorrow and inspect this road.”
