Will hang myself in public if AAP proves allegations: Gautam Gambhir on pamphlet row

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Updated: May 10, 2019 23:40 IST

Stepping up his counter-offensive, BJP candidate Gautam Gambhir on Friday said he will “hang” himself in public if the Aam Aadmi Party can prove that he has any link to the derogatory pamphlet allegedly circulated against his rival and AAP nominee from East Delhi Atishi Marlena.

Gambhir also said that he will file a court case against Kejriwal and his party leaders if they did not apologise soon for their charges against him.

If the AAP fails to prove the allegations, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal should quit politics, the ex-cricketer demanded.

“Challenger Number 3 to @ArvindKejriwal and @aap. If he can prove that I have anything to do with this pamphlet filth, then I will hang myself in public. Otherwise @ArvindKejriwal should quit politics. Accepted?” Gambhir tweeted.

The BJP also approached East Delhi parliamentary seat returning officer K Mahesh seeking a police probe into the accusations against Gambhir in connection with alleged circulation of obscene pamphlets targeting Atishi.

The complaint was lodged by BJP’s Krishna Nagar councillor Sandeep Kapoor with the district magistrate and returning officer of East Delhi seeking a police probe in the matter, said Delhi BJP spokesperson Harish Khurana.

The returning officer has already asked the police to register a complaint in this case.

On Thursday night Gambhir sent defamation notices to Kejriwal, his deputy Manish Sisodia and Atishi asking them to withdraw their charges against him and tender unconditional apology or face legal action.

“Respecting women is part of my values and I am hurt over the accusation. If Atishi, Kejriwal and Sisodia do not tender an apology to me soon, I will file a case against them in a court,” he said in a statement on Friday.

The BJP stood solidly behind Gambhir, hitting out at AAP leaders including Atishi.

“Earlier, she played caste card and now she is playing woman card,” Delhi BJP vice president Shazia Ilmil said in a press conference.

Union minister Vijay Goel said that the BJP does not support the language of the pamphlet and questioned why the AAP did not file any police complaint in this regard.

“Levelling allegations without proof is petty politics. The AAP has targeted Gambhir because he is winning the polls from East Delhi,” Goel said.

Atishi accompanied by Sisodia in a press conference on Thursday had alleged Gambhir’s role in circulation of pamphlets carrying “obscene and derogatory” remarks against her.

Gambhir had refuted the allegation saying he would quit the electoral contest if proved guilty.

The issue refused to die down even as campaigning for May 12 polls ended Friday evening, with both sides attacking each other.

Atishi has lodged a complaint with Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) in the matter.

(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.)