Last Updated:
AAP MLA Anil Jha claimed that the attack on Delhi CM Rekha Gupta on Wednesday was “staged” to create “drama”, prompting a furious response from the BJP.
AAP MLA Anil Jha said the attack on Delhi CM Rekha Gupta was staged. (Agencies)
After Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta was attacked during a public grievance hearing at her residence in Civil Lines, an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA grabbed headlines for claiming that her own man staged the attack to create drama and avoid discussion on the national capital’s civic issues.
Speaking to reporters, AAP MLA Anil Jha said, “This was not an attack. I have known her for a long time. No attack took place. She orchestrated this attack and arranged a man to create a story.”
Jha also claimed that when Gupta was the president of the Delhi University Students’ Union, he was the vice-president. “We were at a protest. She asked me to light a match and burn some of her hair so that she could show how she was attacked. This was no attack but a drama,” he added.
Delhi: Reacting to the attack on CM Rekha Gupta during Jan Sunvai, AAP MLA Anil Jha says, “This was not an attack. I have known her for a long time. No attack took place; she orchestrated this to create a story…” pic.twitter.com/Ldmo0HXMg8— IANS (@ians_india) August 20, 2025
Reacting sharply to this shocking statement, BJP MLA Harish Khurana said, “All political parties have condemned this attack on the Chief Minister.Arvind Kejriwal ji, you are condemning the attack, but an AAP MLA is calling it a drama. Is this the party’s official stand? If this is indeed so, you should be ashamed. You have the expertise in such drama.”
.@ArvindKejriwal क्या यह तुम्हारी पार्टी की ऑफिसियल लाइन है।तुम्हारा विधायक कह रहा है की कोई हमला नहीं हुआ और मुख्यमंत्री ड्रामा कर रही है, तो तुम हमले की भर्त्सना क्यो कर रहे हो?
मुझे तो लग रहा है कहीं इसमें @AamAadmiParty की साज़िश तो नहीं है क्योकि ऐसे कृत्यों से तुम्हारा… pic.twitter.com/GP6wm8kven
— Harish Khurana (@HarishKhuranna) August 20, 2025
BJP MLA Shikha Roy also condemned the remarks, saying, “The Aam Aadmi Party has always been a party of theatrics and drama. This is true because during their time they orchestrated such incidents and then tried to take advantage of them, which is why they are making such statements now.”
Earlier today, Rekha Gupta was addressing a weekly ‘Jan Sunwai‘ programme when a man entered, allegedly handed over a paper to the Chief Minister, shouted, slapped her, pulled her hair, and abused her. The accused grabbed the Chief Minister by her hair and did not let go for quite some time, according to sources.
The individual was identified as 41-year-old Rajesh Bhai Khimji Bhai Sakriya, a resident of Gujarat’s Rajkot. He was overpowered by the security team and arrested, and the Delhi Police registered an attempt to murder case against him for attacking the Delhi Chief Minister.
ALSO READ: 80-Second Horror At Rekha Gupta’s Residence: Attacker Slapped Her, Pulled Hair As She Stumbled
Reacting to the incident, former Delhi Chief Ministers Arvind Kejriwal and Atishi condemned the incident and hoped for strict action against the culprits. “In a democracy, there is a place for disagreement and protest, but there is no place for violence. It is hoped that the Delhi Police will take the strictest action against the culprits,” Atishi said.
Delhi Minister Parvesh Verma also confirmed that the attacker had conducted a recce of the CM’s house. “The police are investigating the mindset and motives of the attacker. We know that the attacker had been doing a recce of her house and was waiting for this morning.”
Meanwhile, Rekha Gupta was reported to be in a stable condition, although she was still in a state of shock. BJP leaders have attributed the attack to political motives.
Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master’s in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international…Read More
Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master’s in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international… Read More
Read More
