‘Never thought politics could stoop so low’: Atishi breaks down over BJP’s Ramesh Bidhuri’s attack on her father

Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, representing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), broke down during a press conference on Monday after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ramesh Bidhuri made a controversial personal remark about her. The incident occurred after Bidhuri, speaking at a public rally in Rohini, criticized Atishi for changing her surname from "Marlena" to "Singh," implying that she had altered her identity to suit political needs.

In response, Atishi explained that her father, who was a teacher throughout his life, had dedicated his career to educating children from poor and lower-middle-class backgrounds. Atishi revealed that her father, now 80 years old, was in poor health, unable to walk without assistance. She expressed her distress, questioning why a political leader would attack her elderly, ailing father in such a manner. Atishi said, “My father was a teacher throughout his life, he has taught thousands of children coming from poor and lower-middle-class families, now he is 80 years old... now he is really ill that he can't even walk without help. Will you (Ramesh Bidhuri) do such a dirty thing for the sake of election?”

Bidhuri’s remarks, made during a BJP rally in Rohini, centered around Atishi’s decision to drop her father’s surname, which he described as indicative of a lack of integrity. He said, "Marlena has become Singh… She has changed her father. She was Marlena earlier, but has become Singh now." Atishi, who dropped the surname "Marlena" some time ago, has previously explained that her decision was part of a personal choice, unrelated to politics. However, Bidhuri's comments suggested otherwise, drawing attention to her family background.

Ramesh Bidhuri, a BJP candidate from Kalkaji, has previously made contentious remarks in his political career. Notably, just days before, he had made a comment regarding Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi’s appearance, which resulted in widespread backlash. Initially, he defended his remarks, asserting they were misunderstood. However, he later issued a public statement expressing regret, stating that he did not intend to insult anyone.

Atishi, in her statement, also questioned Bidhuri's record as a Member of Parliament. She pointed out that despite serving as an MP for over a decade, Bidhuri had failed to deliver meaningful development in his constituency. Atishi emphasized that voters should evaluate politicians based on their work and not on personal attacks. She criticized him for resorting to derogatory remarks to seek votes rather than focusing on policy and governance.

The exchange between Atishi and Bidhuri is part of the larger political discourse leading up to the Delhi Assembly elections, with both AAP and BJP leaders intensifying their campaigns. The incident has raised concerns about the nature of political rhetoric in the country, with personal attacks becoming a central theme in the ongoing election battle.