Sisodia threatens defamation case against Gambhir as BJP, AAP spar over obscene pamphlets against Atishi

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Friday slammed BJP leader Gautam Gambhir and demanded his apology for "obnoxious deed" even as the BJP and the AAP continue to spar over the distribution of obscene pamphlets against AAP's East Delhi candidate Atishi. Reacting sharply to Gambhir's defamation notice to him along with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Atishi, Sisodia threatened to file a counter case against the BJP leader. 

"You should have aplogised for this obnoxious deed. Instead, you are threatening us with defemation case. Its like the pot calling the kettle black. We will file defemation case against you. How dare you distribute such pamphlets and brazenly level false allegations against CM," the AAP leader said.

The Aam Aadmi Party leader and Lok Sabha candidate from East Delhi Atishi on Thursday broke down while reading a pamphlet containing "obscene and derogatory" remarks against her. Atishi alleged that the pamphlets, carrying highly derogatory and obscene remarks against her, were distributed by her BJP rival Gautam Bambhir.

AAP East Delhi LS seat candidate Atishi breaks down during a press conference alleging BJP's Gautam Gambhir of distributing pamphlets with derogatory remarks against her says,"They've shown how low they can stoop.Pamphlet states that 'she is very good example of a mixed breed'." pic.twitter.com/z14MXXh574

— ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2019

The cricketer-turned-politician, however, denied the charges and sent a defamation notice to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, his deputy Manish Sisodia and Atishi demanding that they withdraw the allegation and tender an unconditional apology over the matter.

He, in turn, levelled counter allegations and claimed that the incident was staged by the Aam Aadmi Party itself. "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.

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.

(With inputs from PTI)