Archive · 28 Sep 2026
Rahul Gandhi Links Parvesh Verma Slap Row to Voter Fears
A video showed Delhi minister Parvesh Verma slapping Sahib Singh during a road inspection visit.
Singh said he was filming a conversation between Verma and AAP MLA Jarnail Singh.
Singh said Verma grabbed his phone and hit him, so he filed a complaint.
Verma said people with the AAP MLA had misbehaved and abused his family.
Rahul Gandhi used the incident to make a larger criticism of the BJP.
He said people may face punishment when they ask questions about roads, paper leaks, or government decisions.
Gandhi also said alleged vote theft can make leaders feel they no longer need voters' approval.
Former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal demanded Verma's arrest.
Rahul Gandhi called a video of Delhi minister Parvesh Verma slapping a man recording a road inspection the face of power that no longer fears voters.
Gandhi said questioning authorities can lead to a slap in the street, a lathi charge over paper leaks, or a switched-off microphone in Parliament.
The man, Sahib Singh, said Verma took his phone and slapped him while he was livestreaming; he filed a complaint against the minister.
Verma said an AAP worker abused his family and that anger caused him to react, while Arvind Kejriwal called for Verma's arrest.
Gandhi linked the incident to alleged vote theft and an Indian Express report that two election commissioners objected 14 times to decisions connected with electoral-roll revision.
- Who
- Rahul Gandhi criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party and Parvesh Verma; Sahib Singh said Verma slapped him, while Verma disputed the context.
- What
- A dispute during a Delhi road inspection led to Verma allegedly slapping a man who was recording, followed by political criticism about intimidation and alleged vote theft.
- When
- The road-inspection incident occurred on Sunday; the article also refers to student protests on July 20.
- Where
- The incident took place during a road inspection in Delhi; Gandhi's comments also referred to Parliament and protests near Parliament.
- Why
- Gandhi said the incident showed that those in power no longer fear voters, while Verma said he reacted after alleged abuse directed at his family.
Gandhi and Critics
Verma's Response
Meaning of the slap incident
Gandhi and Critics
Gandhi said the alleged slap showed a form of power that no longer fears voters or public questioning.
Verma's Response
Verma said the incident followed misbehavior and alleged abuse of his family by people accompanying the AAP MLA.
Treatment of questions
Gandhi and Critics
Gandhi claimed that questions can bring a slap on the street, a lathi charge over paper leaks, or a switched-off microphone in Parliament.
Verma's Response
The articles provide no direct BJP response to Gandhi's broader allegations; Verma told Gandhi to stay out, saying he did not know the facts.
Legal and political consequences
Gandhi and Critics
Sahib Singh said he filed a complaint, and Arvind Kejriwal demanded Verma's arrest.
Verma's Response
Verma defended his conduct by saying he reacted in anger after alleged provocation; the articles do not report an outcome of the complaint.
- Main speaker
- Rahul Gandhi
- Minister involved
- Parvesh Verma, Delhi's Public Works Department minister
- Person who was slapped
- Sahib Singh, who said he was livestreaming the exchange
- Gandhi's broader claim
- He said alleged vote theft produces both electoral victory and the confidence to demand silence and blind devotion.
- Verma's explanation
- Verma said an AAP worker misbehaved and abused his family, causing him to react in anger.
- Complaint and arrest demand
- Sahib Singh said he filed a complaint; Arvind Kejriwal called for Verma's arrest.
- Election-related reference
- An Indian Express report said two election commissioners objected 14 times in 10 months to decisions by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar related to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
