Saturday, March 29, 2025
“He Looked Insane, I Never Imagined This Could Happen”: Delhi CM Rekha Gupta Recounts Day of Attack
Ten days after the shocking attack on Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, the accused Rajeshbhai Khimji remains in police custody. While investigations continue into his intent, planning, and possible associates, the Chief Minister has for the first time spoken in detail about what happened that day. In an interview with News18, Rekha Gupta recounted the events, describing her disbelief and the moment she realized she had been attacked.
Gupta explained that the incident occurred during a routine public hearing. “People come from far and wide to meet me—many of them are poor, helpless, or marginalized. On such days, security checks are not as strict as at other times. People come not only from Delhi but also from other states. That’s why no one was surprised when a man said he was from Gujarat,” she said.
According to her, the man did not initially appear dangerous, though he seemed mentally unstable. “When he entered, I never thought something like this could happen. Yes, he looked a little crazy. He introduced himself saying, ‘I’m from Gujarat, I’m in jail… release me… tell the Supreme Court.’ I couldn’t make sense of what he was saying,” Gupta recalled.
The Chief Minister said she tried to calm him down: “I told him—okay, let me hear you out. He didn’t seem innocent, but he looked strong. I encouraged him to speak further… and then suddenly he attacked me.”
Reflecting on the moment afterward, Gupta described her initial shock: “I sat down and thought, how could this happen to me? But then I immediately thought of the women who lost their loved ones in the recent Pahalgam terror attack. What was their fault? They were simply out with their families—on picnics or honeymoons. When tragedy struck them, they must have asked themselves the same question: why us?”
Gupta emphasized that such incidents are unpredictable and can happen to anyone. But she vowed not to be deterred from her public responsibilities: “These are accidents that can happen anytime, to anyone—not just to me. But I will not stop working because of these attacks. I will continue to meet people, to hold public hearings, to engage with citizens. My schedule will go on as planned.”
