‘They Don’t Like a Woman CM Working 24×7’: Delhi CM Rekha Gupta Hits Back at Critics Over ‘AQI’ Gaffe

New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Friday strongly criticised those targeting her over minor verbal errors, alleging that the attacks stem from discomfort with a woman Chief Minister working “24×7.” Addressing the Delhi Assembly, Gupta said she was being subjected to “disrespect, cheap comments, and baseless allegations” over mispronunciations, including the recent controversy over her spelling of AQI (Air Quality Index).

Participating in the discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena’s address during the Winter Session of the Delhi Assembly, Gupta said that her critics were deliberately magnifying trivial mistakes to undermine her leadership.

“They say why did she spell AQI as AIQ. They don’t like the fact that a woman Chief Minister is working day and night. Sometimes they disrespect me, sometimes they make cheap comments,” Gupta told the House.

‘Anyone Can Make a Mistake While Speaking’

The Delhi CM defended herself, stating that occasional slips of the tongue are natural. “Sometimes baseless allegations are made. Sometimes they make fun of the words I accidentally utter. Anyone can mispronounce words while speaking. I made a mistake — but some people do things deliberately,” she said.

Later, while sharing a clip of her speech on social media, Gupta said she had been “working non-stop for Delhi, day in and day out,” adding that her relentless pace of work had unsettled her political opponents.

“That’s what bothers them. They can’t accept it. They can’t handle it,” she wrote.

Addresses Bhagat Singh ‘Congress Sarkar’ Slip

During her Assembly speech, Gupta also referred to another controversy triggered earlier in the week, when she mistakenly said “Congress government” instead of “British government” while recounting the freedom struggle.

“In my speech, I accidentally said ‘Congress’ instead of ‘British’. They immediately started making reels on it,” she said. “Words can slip out of anyone’s mouth — mine or yours.”

The remark had drawn sharp reactions from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). MLA Sanjay Jha mocked the statement, calling it an “updated version of history,” while AAP Delhi chief Saurabh Bharadwaj said the comment had “embarrassed India.”

“Even schoolchildren know that Shaheed Bhagat Singh threw a bomb in 1929 against the British government,” Bharadwaj said.

Gupta Compares Her Tenure With AAP’s Rule

Hitting back politically, Gupta compared her government’s 11 months in office with what she described as “11 years of mismanagement and corruption” under the previous AAP government. She claimed her administration had prioritised reforms in health, education, transport, and infrastructure.

The Chief Minister highlighted initiatives such as Ayushman Bharat, Vandana Yojana, digitisation of hospitals, Jan Aushadhi Kendras, and palna centres for working women. In education, she said her government was working to curb arbitrary practices by private schools.

Allegations Against Previous Government

Gupta alleged that during the AAP government’s tenure, Delhi witnessed massive cost overruns in hospital projects, irregular electricity connections, and irrational water bills. She said her government had taken corrective steps through legal electricity metering, an amnesty scheme for water dues, and time-bound GST refunds for traders.

Political Heat Rises in Delhi Assembly

The remarks come amid heightened political tensions in Delhi, with sharp exchanges between the ruling BJP and the opposition AAP. As the Assembly session continues, verbal missteps, governance claims, and counter-allegations are expected to remain at the centre of the political discourse.

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