New Delhi [India], August 21 (ANI): Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Gopal Italia has strongly condemned BJP MLA Harish Khurana for sharing an alleged AI-edited photo linking Italia to the attacker of Delhi CM Rekha Gupta, Rajesh Sakariya.
Italia called Khurana “no better than a petty troll” and questioned whether he thought about his father, Madan Lal Khurana’s, honour before engaging in such actions.
In a video message, AAP MLA Gopal Italia categorically rebutted these frivolous allegations, stating: “Ever since I won as an MLA from Visavadar constituency, the entire BJP has been upset, restless and angry. They keep thinking — when the BJP has been ruling Gujarat for 40 years, how could a young man from a completely non-political background, from a new party like the Aam Aadmi Party, become an MLA in a by-election against the entire BJP government? This has deeply hurt the BJP; it has unsettled them, and out of this anger and frustration, they are constantly trying to malign me, my party, and my leader, Arvind Kejriwal.”
The AAP MLA from Gujarat said, “We come from the people, the people are our strength, they make us, they send us forward. BJP is unable to digest this reality. That is why they continuously resort to crooked methods to defame us. The way a BJP leader from Delhi has behaved today is extremely shameful, disgraceful, and wrong,” read the official statement.
He further added that his father’s legacy was built on hard work and respect for the people, not on spreading fake news and engaging in petty politics.
Pointing to a recent incident, Gopal Italia revealed, “If late Madan Lal Khurana had seen such cheap, troll-like actions by his son, would he have been happy? By editing an old video of mine, adding another man’s photo in it, and posting that fake photo on Twitter, what is he trying to show? The way Madan Lal Khurana earned respect and love of the people by working for them, if from heaven he is watching his son today, would he be happy to see that his son has become a troll, a peddler of fake news, indulging in cheap, petty acts? This behaviour is wrong.”
The controversy began when Harish Khurana shared a photo on social media, claiming it showed Italia alongside the attacker, Rajesh Khimji Sakriya. However, Italia denied the claim, stating that the photo was AI-generated using an old video. Italia shared a link to the original video, which featured him with someone else, not the accused.
Appealing, he said, “I urge all BJP leaders to stay away from fake news. I also appeal to all media persons in Delhi and elsewhere that, before showing any such tweets by these trolls, they must first verify the information. Do not broadcast false material until you have a verified source. I will be compelled to take legal steps, go to court, and approach the police. I do not wish to get involved in such matters, but I will be forced to if this continues.”
BJP leaders, including Harish Khurana, have alleged that the attack on CM Rekha Gupta was connected to AAP and demanded a thorough investigation.
In a strong rebuttal to BJP MLA Harish Khurana’s tweet on X, Gopal Italia replied: “Harish Khurana ji, you don’t have more respect than a troll, but before indulging in such cheap antics, didn’t you think about the honour of your father, Madanlal ji? Seeing your deeds, which are even lower than those of a small-time BJP worker paid two rupees per tweet, would the late Madanlal Khurana ji be very pleased? What would he be thinking, seeing his son become a petty troll?
The AAP has maintained that the photo was doctored and warned the media against spreading misinformation. Italia urged media outlets to verify information before broadcasting it, stating that he would be forced to take legal action if they continued to cover Khurana’s claims without verification.
“After becoming an MLA, it’s unfortunate for me to have to explain things to cheap trolls like you, but still, take a look. You took some screenshots from this old video of mine, edited them, and posted fake photos. Being the son of a CM, didn’t you feel even a bit of shame doing such disgusting things? My appeal to all media is not to run news based on this petty troll Harish ji’s tweet without verifying it. I will be forced to take legal action,” the post concluded.
Meanwhile, Delhi Police have booked the attacker, Rajesh Sakariya, for attempt to murder under Section 109(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The police described him as a “serial offender” with multiple past cases in Gujarat, many of which ended in acquittal. (ANI)
Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed of ANI; only the image & headline may have been reworked by News Services Division of World News Network Inc Ltd and Palghar News and Pune News and World News
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