Delhi minister Parvesh Verma faces backlash after video shows him slapping a youth during road check

The Incident

Delhi PWD Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma drew heavy criticism on Sunday after a video clip spread widely on social media showing him purportedly slapping an individual during a road repair inspection in the Vikaspuri and Tilak Nagar areas of west Delhi. The victim asserts that he belongs to the social media team of a local Aam Aadmi Party MLA and was merely recording the proceedings when the altercation erupted Sunday afternoon.

Reactions

AAP MLA Jarnail Singh posted the clip online and accused the minister of flying into a rage upon discovering alleged faults in the roadwork, leading to thuggery against his colleague. AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal strongly condemned the event and demanded the immediate arrest of the Public Works Department minister. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also criticized Verma on social media, writing that the episode proves the ruling party no longer fears voters and that such arrogance follows vote theft. Verma countered the allegations by sharing his own video on social media, claiming that rival party workers directed verbal abuse at his family while admitting that the situation should not have escalated.

Background

Verma serves as a senior leader in the Bharatiya Janata Party cabinet headed by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. He previously secured a high-profile victory in the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections by defeating AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal in the New Delhi constituency by a margin of 4,089 votes. That election saw the BJP sweep to power in the national capital after 27 years by capturing 48 of the 70 seats, while the AAP was reduced to 22 seats. During his election campaign, Verma mounted sharp attacks on Kejriwal regarding administrative issues and the official residence expenses.

Context

Road inspections serve as routine field exercises for public works ministers to check civic infrastructure quality firsthand. Such public visits frequently draw crowds and political opponents, occasionally sparking local friction when cameras capture disputed civic conditions.