Why has the BJP fielded its controversial leader Ramesh Bidhuri, who has embarrassed the party with his allegedly provocative, communal, misogynist and humiliating statements? Is it to lure the Gurjars who constitute 8-10% of Delhi’s population? Or is it a deliberate ploy to create a divide before the Delhi Assembly Elections 2025?

The saffron party’s candidate from Kalkaji recently targeted Delhi Chief Minister Atishi hit her below the belt and humiliated her in the most unexpected and unbecoming way.

Hitting out at Atishi, he asked why she dropped her surname and declared that “she had changed her father.”

BJP Defends Ramesh Bidhuri, Questions Atishi

After the Aam Aadmi Party slammed the saffron party, Delhi BJP spokesperson Pravin Shankar Kapoor said that personal and sexist comments should not be made against anyone.

Having said this, he came out to attack Atishi and said she should explain why had she dropped she dropped her surame “Marlena”.

He also alleged that her father had defended hanged terrorist Afzal Guru of Jammu and Kashmir. The Delhi BJP spokesperson demanded Atishi to aplogise for her father’s deeds.

First, ‘Marlena’ is not a surname. As both parents of Atishi were communists, they gave the title of Marlena, a mixture of Marx and Lenin.

Ghost of Afzal Guru Haunts

The trial court found Afzal Guru guilty and awarded him the death sentence in December 2002. The Delhi High Court upheld the capital punishment in October 2003. The Supreme Court confirmed the capital punishment.

Afzal’s wife Tabassum Guru filed a mercy petition to the then-President A P J Abdul Kalam in 2006. A campaign to request the president pardon Guru was launched on the premise that the trial was not fair.

Atishi’s mother, Tripta Wahi, was amongst those who signed the petition requesting the president to pardon Afzal Guru.

Atishi Distances Herself From Father

Clarifying her stand on the subject, Atishi told Hinde daily Amar Ujala in 2019, “she said. “I am not responsible for any political action taken by the parents. It is their responsibility and accountability and they are fully capable of expressing their views. I can say, from my point of view, that I was not in support of that step.”

Yet, the issue did not die down. When Atishi was made Delhi Chief Minister, AAP’s estranged Rajya Sabha member Swati Maliwal raked up the issue to settle her political score.

ow as the Delhi Assembly Elections 2025 is drawing closure, the BJP has raised the issue again.

Ramesh Bidhuri’s Earlier Faux Pas

Ramesh Bidhuri is not new to controversies. Just before his unsavoury comment against Atishi, he had made a sexist comment against Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi.

The Kalkai candidate said, “Lalu said in Bihar that he would make roads like Hema Malini’s cheeks, but he lied, he could not do it. I assure you that just as we made the roads in Okhla and Sangam Vihar, we will make all the roads in Kalkaji like Priyanka Gandhi’s cheeks.”

Bidhuri remained unapologetic.

Reacting to his comment, Congress spokesperson Supriya Srinate said, “Ramesh Bidhuri’s statement regarding Priyanka Gandhi is not only shameful but also shows his disgusting mentality towards women.”

She continued, “But what else can be expected from a man who used foul language against his fellow MP in the House and did not receive any punishment? This is the real face of BJP.”

Ramesh Bidhuri Hurls Abuse On BSP MP In LS

Ramesh hit the headlines for the wrong reasons last year when he used unparliamentary words against then BSP member Danish Ali in Lok Sabha.

He used an extremely derogatory word used against the Muslims and it cannot be written here.

He also called him “a Pakistani”, “a terrorist” and “a pimp”.
In a letter written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, the BSP MP said, “Among the words Ramesh Bidhuri directed against me were Bhadwa (pimp), Katwa (circumcised one), Mullah ugravadi (Muslim terrorist), atankvadi (terrorist) etc.”

BJP Rewards Ramesh Bidhuri

The BJP awarded its MP by giving him the poll responsibility in Tonk district of Rajasthan in the state assembly elections. Sachin Pilt hails from this district.

By this action, one can understand the brazen approach of the saffron party. Experts believe, as Bidhuri was deployed in Tonk to reach out to Jat community and spread hatred against the Muslims, it is doing the same thing in Delhi.

BJP’s Game Plan

Out of 364 villages in Delhi state, Jat community dominates 225 villages while Gurjars dominate in 70 villages.

As Ramesh Bidhuri is from the Gurjar community, which has a decisive population in Badarupur, Tughlakabad, Sangam Vihar, Ghonda, Gokulpuri, Karawal Nagar, and Okhla, the saffron party wants to use him to attract the voters of the community.

Political analysts believe, the BJP has meticulously crafted the strategy of creaing a rift between the Gurjars and others. The more Ramesh Bidhuri is attacked, the more Gurjar votes for the saffron party may get.

Bidhuri’s anti-Muslim rhetoric may also help the Hindutva party polarise the voters on the communal lines. Political observers believe, the BJP candidate from Kalkaji may once again get indulged in the Muslim bashing.