Delhi assembly session off to a stormy start; 3 BJP MLAs marshalled out

AAP calls protests by BJP MLAs contempt of the house

ITDC INDIA EPRESS/ ITDC NEWS : The Budget session of Delhi Vidhan Sabha began on a stormy note on Friday as the MLAs belonging to the BJP indulged in sloganeering against the Arvind Kejriwal government and were countered by the legislators of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party during the address of Lt Governor V.K. Saxena to the House.

Delhi assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel ordered the marshalling out of three MLAs belonging to the BJP after which Saxena carried on with his speech. The BJP legislators were raising slogans demanding the resignation of Kejriwal over the alleged corruption in the now-scrapped excise policy of the national capital.

The bitterness between the AAP and the BJP, already prevalent in the backdrop of the allegations of corruption against AAP functionaries and the ongoing confrontation between the Lt Governor and the Kejriwal regime, is only set to increase with the ruling side moving to initiate contempt proceedings against the BJP legislators.

Cabinet minister Saurabh Bhardwaj promptly moved a resolution terming the protests by the BJP MLAs contempt of the house. It was passed unanimously by the House and has been forwarded to the Ethics Committee of the Vidhan Sabha.

Kejriwal described the disruption of the LG's address as a violation of the decorum of the Vidhan Sabha. He said the Ethics Committee will review the resolution passed by the House and take appropriate action.

“To obstruct the speech of the LG and create a nuisance as he speaks is against the rules of the House and is a contempt of the House. Therefore the members of the House have passed a proposal and have demanded that this issue be taken to an appropriate committee. The committee will look into the issue and take action on the matter,” Kejriwal said.

Shri Saurabh Bhardwaj emphasised that this matter concerns the sanctity of the House, and despite differences with the LG, traditions must be upheld. He urged all members to respect the decorum of the House and maintain the integrity of the institution.