AAP Gujarat chief Gopal Italia detained by Delhi Police over casteist remarks against PM Modi

New Delhi: Delhi Police on Thursday (October 13) detained Aami Aadmi Party (AAP) Gujarat chief Gopal Italia from the NCW office. Italia was summoned by NCW Chairperson Rekha Sharma for using "abusive & indecent language" against PM Modi. Sharma, after the hearing, said that Italia had claimed that he was not the person in the video in a verbal statement. However, in his written response, he said he did not mean it. While Italia's hearing was going on, AAP supporters reportedly tried to enter the NCW building in the national capital, following which police had to be called to restrain them.

According to officials, Italia was detained after the hearing for "creating a situation that disrupted law and order in the area"

Delhi | AAP Gujarat chief Gopal Italia detained from NCW office by Delhi Police https://t.co/qSkvPOJqPD pic.twitter.com/LKjdiDbvSn — ANI (@ANI) October 13, 2022

All the @AamAadmiParty hulligons are outside my office creating ruckus. @CPDelhi @SouthwestDcp @PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/7N698OAcRK — Rekha Sharma (@sharmarekha) October 13, 2022

He denied getting a summon but his reply is ready. He also denied his presence in the video but in his reply, he accepts tweeting.He had claimed it wasn't him in the video: NCW chief on AAP Gujarat chief summoned over a purported video where he used derogatory language for the PM pic.twitter.com/XO9O4EOOtO

— ANI (@ANI) October 13, 2022

Earlier last week, BJP's IT cell in-charge Amit Malviya shared the purported video of Italia on Twitter where the AAP leader can be heard calling PM Modi a "neech aadmi" (a lowly person).

It has been reported that the video is from 2019 and was made during the run-up to the general elections.

AAP, however, has defended its Gujarat unit chief and said that BJP is using an old video of Gopal Italia to target him now as he comes from a poor family and belongs to the Patidaar community.

(with agency inputs)