Unending saga: AAP and BJP continue sparring on Atishi clip

New Delhi: BJP and AAP continued to clash on Tuesday over the controversial video clip involving leader of the opposition Atishi. Minister Kapil Mishra said Atishi had been absconding since using "objectionable language" against the Sikh Gurus in the assembly and "Punjab Police is being misused on the instructions of Arvind Kejriwal to suppress this matter". AAP claimed that Mishra had committed "beadbi" (disrespect) of Guru Sahibs only for dirty politics by sharing the allegedly doctored clip.The controversy has erupted over the video clip in which, BJP alleged, Atishi had used "insulting" words for Sikh Guru Tegh Bahadur. AAP has denied the charge and accused Mishra of sharing a doctored video. Speaker Vijender Gupta has ordered a forensic probe into the clip, as demanded by both parties, and also referred the matter to the privileges committee.Punjab Police has registered an FIR after its forensic analysis of the clip, downloaded from Mishra's X handle, allegedly found it to be doctored.At a press conference on the assembly premises on Tuesday, Gupta said, "Punjab Police replied asking for 10 days' time, but looking at the seriousness of the matter, Delhi Assembly Secretariat gave them only three days to submit the full report by Jan 15." He said notices were issued by the assembly secretariat to the Punjab director general of police, the special DGP of cyber cell and the Jalandhar commissioner of police for the breach of house privileges. The speaker said the assembly was neither contacted nor asked to provide any documents, raising concerns over jurisdiction and the independence of the investigation. He termed the Punjab Police intervention a political move aimed at creating confusion. "The issue is both legally sensitive and emotionally significant for the people. The developments point towards direct political interference, led by those occupying the opposition space in Delhi Assembly. Any conspiracy to undermine the dignity of the house will not be tolerated."A compilation of video recordings of the proceedings of the assembly from Jan 6 to 9 on Atishi's alleged remark has been posted on its official social media accounts. The status posted along with the 14.57-minute video mentions "undignified remarks made by the leader of the opposition towards Gurus" while stating that Gupta has clarified the "factual position" on the issue.Mishra put up a poster at another press conference at the Delhi secretariat that read, "Where is Atishi Marlena?" He said, "Since that day, Atishi Marlena did not come to Delhi Assembly even once. She did not come before the media either. She was ordered to run away while false cases and conspiracies are being hatched from behind... Arvind Kejriwal ji, we are not afraid of your misuse of police." Atishi has earlier denied the charges.AAP's Anurag Dhanda claimed the forensic probe by Punjab Police had made it clear "that word was nowhere in the video, but Mishra wrote subtitles, and the manner in which the Guru Sahib's name was written along with those words falls under the category of beadbi." (With inputs from Jalandhar)