The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its east Delhi candidate Gautam Gambhir of distributing pamphlets containing “obscene and derogatory” remarks on Atishi, the AAP candidate from the parliamentary segment. Gambhir has denied the allegation and said he will quit his candidature if the charges against him are proven.

The purpoted pamphlet also had objectionable and derogatory remarks about deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia.

In a press conference on Thursday afternoon, a visibly emotional Atishi broke down while reading out parts of the pamphlet which she said was being distributed with newspapers in areas such as Vivek Vihar and Krishna Nagar.

Sisodia said the party will not only file a complaint with the police but also with the Election Commission of India.

“If this is the way Gautam Gambhir fights a political battle with a woman, I am concerned about the safety and security of millions of women in east Delhi, if he ever becomes an MP from the constituency,” Atishi said.

Reacting to the allegations, Gambhir in a series of tweets said, “I declare that if it’s proven that I did it, I will withdraw my candidature right now. If not, will you quit politics? I am ashamed to have a CM like Arvind Kejriwal.” He tagged both Atishi and the CM.

East Delhi returning officer K Mahesh directed Delhi Police to lodge an FIR and launch an investigation into AAP’s allegations.

Taking suo motu cognisance of the case, the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) served a notice to the deputy commissioner of police (east) asking the police to register an FIR in the case.

Calling the act “deeply” disturbing and “sickening”, DCW chief Swati Maliwal said, “We have issued a notice to the police asking them to register an FIR and arrest the culprits. How will women participate in politics if they are treated this way? Why has no action been taken against such dirty tricks?”

In its notice issued Thursday, DCW sought to know if an FIR has been registered in the case as yet. “If not, then provide the reasons for the same,” the notice said.

The pamphlets, which Atishi and Sisodia read out in the press conference, also accused both leaders of corruption.

Union minister and senior BJP leader Vijay Goel said, “The Aam Aadmi Party and Arvind Kejriwal have shown that they can stoop to any level for political gains. In the past, too, they have levelled baseless allegations on several leaders. They have tried to malign Gautam Gambhir by levelling baseless allegations against him. As Gambhir said, they should show proof that he or the BJP is behind this.”

An hour before Gambhir reacted to the allegation, Delhi’s chief minister and AAP’s national convener Arvind Kejriwal tweeted: “Never imagined Gautam Gambhir to stoop so low. How can women expect safety if people wid (with) such mentality are voted in? Atishi, stay strong. I can imagine how difficult it must be for u (you). It is precisely this kind of forces we have to fight against .” Sisodia said it was party workers who brought these pamphlets to their notice. “We have all appreciated Gambhir’s skills in cricket. Becoming a politician was his personal choice. But we never imagined that he would stoop so low,” he said.

First Published: May 10, 2019 00:01 IST