A fresh political controversy has erupted in the national capital after the Bharatiya Janata Party accused Aam Aadmi Party leader and Delhi Assembly Leader of Opposition Atishi of making objectionable remarks related to a Sikh Guru. The allegation has sharply intensified tensions between the two parties, with the BJP demanding police action and the AAP calling the charge a deliberate misrepresentation.

Senior BJP figures, including former MP Ramesh Bidhuri, submitted a formal complaint to the police on Wednesday, alleging that a video circulating on social media contained comments that hurt the religious sentiments of the Sikh community. The BJP claimed the remarks were serious enough to warrant the registration of a criminal case and immediate legal steps.

BJP leaders argued that public representatives must be held accountable for statements that could disturb social harmony. They insisted the issue should not be viewed through a political lens, maintaining that it concerned respect for faith and religious figures.

The controversy has also moved beyond Delhi. A BJP delegation, including ministers and MLAs, is set to travel to Amritsar to raise the matter before Sikh religious authorities, signalling an attempt to amplify the issue at a national level.

The ruling AAP, however, has strongly rejected the allegations. Party leaders said the row was being manufactured to divert attention from an unfinished discussion in the Delhi Assembly on worsening air pollution. According to AAP, the video in question was edited and misleadingly captioned to falsely link Atishi’s remarks to a Sikh Guru.

Atishi responded by asserting that she never made any disrespectful statement and accused the BJP of altering the video to inflame religious sentiments. She emphasised her personal respect for Sikh traditions and said the controversy was being used as a political weapon rather than a genuine concern for faith.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also entered the debate, accusing the BJP of targeting Sikh sentiments for political gain. He claimed the incident reflected a broader pattern of religious politics and demanded an apology for what he described as an attempt to mislead the public.

The issue originated during a special Assembly discussion on a government-organised event commemorating the martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur.