NEW DELHI: Delhi Cabinet Minister Kapil Mishra on Tuesday submitted a written complaint to Speaker of the Delhi Legislative Assembly, Vijender Gupta, seeking protection of legislative privilege in connection with the registration of an FIR by the Punjab Police on the Assembly proceedings dated January 6.
In his letter, the Minister stated that the complaint filed by Iqbal Singh and the subsequent actions taken by the Punjab Police, including the registration of a criminal case, demonstrate disregard for the constitutional safeguard provided under Article 361A.
He said that these actions amounted to a serious breach of the privileges of the House and constituted interference with the functioning and authority of the Legislature.
The minister has requested the Speaker to take cognisance of the matter and refer it to the Committee of Privileges for appropriate examination and action. Referring to events in the House, the Minister recalled that on January 6, the Delhi Assembly had witnessed disorder following alleged objectionable and derogatory remarks by Atishi, Leader of Opposition, against Sikh Gurus, leading to disruption of proceedings.
He further stated that on January 9, Chief Whip Abhay Verma informed the House that an FIR had been registered by the Jalandhar Police alleging that Mishra had uploaded a doctored video clip of the Assembly proceedings on social media.
The minister cited a press release issued by the Commissioner of Police, Jalandhar, which stated that the video clip was downloaded from his social media handle and that allegations of deliberate doctoring were levelled against him. He said that the registration of the FIR received wide media coverage and that copies of relevant news reports were enclosed with his letter.
Mishra has maintained that the video clip shared by him was a faithful and accurate reproduction of the proceedings of the Delhi Legislative Assembly and was therefore fully protected under Article 361A. He argued that the initiation of criminal proceedings in connection with such publication undermines the privileges of an elected Member and amounts to an attempt to browbeat and subdue him in the discharge of his legislative duties.