Parvesh Verma and Atishi engage in war of words over 'bhai' comment in Delhi assembly

During the Question Hour, Verma, who is the Delhi Public Works Department (PWD) Minister, was responding to a question on the pilgrimage schemes and financial support offered by the government.

Verma in the response said, "In the year 2024-2025, the erstwhile government, which was known for giving advertisements with tall claims of pilgrimage, allocated Rs. 80 crore in the Chief Minister's Pilgrimage Scheme but no money has been spent on it but was just busy in campaigning."

As Verma was trying to continue, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs led by Atishi were protesting, interrupting the minister.

As the AAP MLAs continued to interrupt despite repeated requests from Speaker Vijender Gupta, Verma in an apparent dig at Atishi told the opposition lawmakers, "Kahaan se laaye ho bhai (where did you get her from?)."

AAP MLAs including Atishi protested against the usage of the word 'bhai' as they claimed it to be "unparliamentary language".

Verma, backed by the Speaker, hit back saying, "I only said 'bhai'. How is it unparliamentary?"

As the uproar continued, Gupta marshalled two AAP MLAs- Vishesh Ravi and Kuldeep Kumar- out of the house.

The BJP returned to power in Delhi last month after 27 years, decimating the AAP, which was eyeing a third straight term.

Verma has emerged as a "giant killer" after defeating former Delhi Chief Minister and AAP supremo, Arvind Kejriwal, from the New Delhi constituency.