'I am pained by ...': Delhi CM Rekha Gupta on memes targeting her; what she said
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta expressed pain over AAP members using her verbal slips to attack her, alleging they cannot tolerate a woman leading the government. She also criticized Arvind Kejriwal's past promises and the transition to the 'Sheesh Mahal', while highlighting the government's efforts in public transport and pollution control.
Rekha Gupta (File Photo)
NEW DELHI: Chief minister Rekha Gupta on Friday said she felt pained that words mistakenly uttered by her were used by AAP members to hurt her dignity, claiming that the opposition cannot tolerate a woman running govt and working round the clock.
She also referred to AAP increasingly using memes to take a dig at her.Replying to the discussion on lieutenant governor's address in the assembly, Gupta launched a sharp attack on AAP and its national convener, Arvind Kejriwal, without taking names. "He consciously swore on his children that he would neither seek power nor accept govt posts, official bungalows or vehicles, and would never ally with Congress. Those misleading statements were made consciously and not by mistake as I did," CM said. Referring to Kejriwal's political journey, Gupta claimed that the transition from a hunger strike at Ramlila Maidan to "Sheesh Mahal" was undertaken with full awareness."I am pained by the way AAP functionaries behaved. They do not like a woman running govt or a woman chief minister working 24x7, doing so many things… They are unable to tolerate it. Sometimes they said something to hurt (my) dignity, made cheap comments, levelled baseless allegations and went after my words...
They said ‘AQI was uttered as 'AIQ', Gupta said. She added, "In my speech, I said Congress instead of British, and they started making reels out of it. Anyone can make such verbal slips."During the debate on pollution, she said two more vehicle fitness centres were opened. "We started bicycle services at 17 metro stations, three more metro corridors were permitted, and new metro routes are being planned." The metro, which is 394km, will be taken over 500km, CM underlined.
The plan is to develop a public transport culture where people are not ashamed to use public transport instead of a private vehicle, she added.She said, "You (AAP) make Rs 25-crore smog tower, which doesn't last for a month, and you question us on cloud seeding. Even if it did not succeed, govt tried and should be appreciated."Delhi Assembly passed Jan Vishwas (Amendment) Bill aimed at decriminalising minor offences.
It also passed Court Fees (Delhi Amendment) Bill, 2025, providing for a full refund of court fees in all cases where disputes are settled. Delhi Shops and Establishments (Amendment) Bill allowing women employees to work night shifts also got its nod. AAP MLA Gopal Rai said that slogans and abuses couldn't clean Delhi's air.
The former environment minister argued that if BJP govt merely carried forward the work done under Kejriwal, pollution levels would come down. He pointed out that Delhi had progressed from just 109 good air days in 2016 to 209 through sustained governance.