The controversy erupted over remarks delivered at a Ramlila programme in Keval Park, Azadpur, on Tuesday evening. Gupta appeared to say that every Ram must be killed before society could be cleansed, prompting AAP leaders to accuse her of insulting Hindu religious sentiments.
Delhi AAP president Saurabh Bharadwaj shared a short video clip of the speech on social media, describing the statement as blasphemy and demanding that the Chief Minister apologise to Hindus across the country.
The disputed Hindi remarks translate approximately as: “Until every Ram is killed, until society becomes completely clean.” The wording appeared inconsistent with the religious context of the gathering, where the traditional narrative celebrates Lord Ram’s victory over the demon king Ravana.
The available clip does not establish that Gupta intended to advocate violence against Lord Ram or his followers. The apparent substitution of Ram for Ravana has nevertheless become the centre of a political confrontation between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition AAP.
Bharadwaj argued that the statement was particularly objectionable because it was delivered from a Ramlila stage, where the ideals associated with Lord Ram are celebrated through performances depicting the victory of good over evil.
He accused the BJP of invoking religious symbolism for political advantage while failing to respect the principles it publicly champions. His allegations represented the opposition party’s interpretation of the episode rather than evidence of Gupta’s intentions.
AAP issued a formal statement on Wednesday demanding an apology and alleging that the Chief Minister’s words had offended Hindu devotees. Bharadwaj said the remarks amounted to an insult to the faith and questioned why other people present on the stage had not intervened.
The party also circulated the disputed footage through its official social media account, intensifying criticism of Gupta and questioning the BJP’s commitment to the religious values it promotes.
AAP MLA Kuldeep Kumar joined the criticism, alleging that the statement exposed a contradiction between the BJP’s religious messaging and its conduct in government. He demanded an apology from the Chief Minister and the party leadership.
Former Model Town legislator Akhilesh Pati Tripathi similarly criticised Gupta, arguing that a Ramlila platform should promote the teachings of Lord Ram rather than become associated with language suggesting his destruction.
The opposition’s reaction extended beyond AAP. Congress leader Priyanka Kakkar criticised Gupta and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, invoking the concept of Ram Rajya, or governance based on the ideals traditionally associated with Lord Ram.
Her comments linked the verbal controversy to broader opposition criticism of the BJP’s political use of religious symbolism. However, the dispute itself centres on the precise wording of Gupta’s speech and whether the statement constituted an inadvertent mistake.
No formal clarification from Gupta addressing the disputed phrase had been established when the controversy was reported. The absence of an explanation left the opposition’s demand for an apology unanswered publicly.
Gupta attended the Ramlila celebration organised by Shri Adarsh Kala Kendra at Keval Park on October 13. BJP legislator Rajkumar Bhatia was also present at the programme.
The Chief Minister participated in other religious celebrations in Delhi that evening, including events in Rohini. Her engagements formed part of public appearances associated with the festive season.
The Ramlila tradition dramatises episodes from the Ramayana, particularly the confrontation between Ram and Ravana. References to defeating Ravana commonly symbolise the elimination of evil, making the distinction between the two names central to interpreting the disputed statement.
The controversy also illustrates how short recordings of political speeches can rapidly become flashpoints when circulated by rival parties. While the words attributed to Gupta have been widely reproduced, the opposition’s assertion that they demonstrate hostility towards Lord Ram remains an allegation.
Bharadwaj’s statement additionally criticised the Delhi administration over demolitions, employment and police action against protesters, linking those grievances to his broader attack on the BJP government.
Those accusations were separate from the Ramlila speech and did not establish the Chief Minister’s intended meaning.
The disputed recording circulated on Wednesday was approximately nine seconds long, showing only a brief portion of Gupta’s address at the Azadpur gathering.
