The Delhi Assembly on Friday passed a resolution against the disruption of Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena’s address by BJP MLAs with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, saying they violated the decorum of the House. Leader of the Opposition in the Delhi Assembly, Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, termed the decision to marshal out BJP MLAs “dictatorial”.
Earlier in the day, as Saxena commenced his address in the House on the first day of the budget session, BJP MLAs raised slogans demanding Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s resignation over alleged corruption in the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy. AAP MLAs opposed the BJP and raised slogans against it over the Adani issue.
While three BJP MLAs — Jitendra Mahajan, OP Sharma, and Anil Bajpai — were marshalled out on Speaker Ram Niwas Goel’s directions, the rest walked out. Later, the LG continued his speech. Delhi Cabinet Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj put forward a resolution describing the disruption by BJP legislators as contempt of the House, which was passed unanimously and sent to the Ethics Committee. Bharadwaj, while presenting the resolution, cited Schedule 5 of the Vidhan Sabha, which outlines the House’s responsibility in the event of its contempt by members during the Lieutenant Governor’s address. According to Schedule 5, any member who interrupts, raises slogans, asks questions, walks out of the House, or talks about the point of order during, before, or after the LG’s address in the House will be considered in contempt of the House. The House can settle this problem by passing a resolution in this regard.
Later, while talking to reporters, he said, “We have differences with the Lieutenant Governor. But these differences exist because we want the LG to maintain the dignity and constitutional supremacy of democracy. The Delhi government tells the LG that he should act as per the constitution and follow the law.” “While passing the resolution, the House could have ruled on this case even today. This is the right side of the house. But the House has sent this matter to the Ethics Committee so that the Ethics Committee, after examining this matter, gives its recommendation to the House,” Bharadwaj said.
Kejriwal said the BJP MLAs were wrong to interrupt the LG’s address. “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,” he said.
