NEW DELHI: Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta expelled AAP MLAs, including Leader of Opposition Atishi, from the ongoing session of the House for raising slogans during Lieutenant Governor (L-G) VK Saxena’s address on Tuesday. Barring MLA Amanatullah Khan who wasn’t present during House proceedings, rest of the 21 MLAs will not be allowed to join the session.
The opposition leaders were marshalled out as they continued chanting “Jai Bhim” to protest against allegedly replacing portraits of Ambedkar and Bhagat Singh from the CM Office. Meanwhile, the Speaker has extended the session till March 3 for the discussion on 14 pending CAG reports.
The suspended AAP lawmakers later held a protest on the assembly premises with Ambedkar portraits, raising “Babashaeb ka ye apman nahin sahega Hindustan (India will not tolerate this insult to Babasaheb)” slogans.
Atishi on Tuesday accused the BJP of trying to sideline Ambedkar’s legacy by replacing his portraits with those of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in key government offices, including the Chief Minister’s office and the Assembly. She further questioned whether the BJP considered Modi to be “greater” than Ambedkar.
“The BJP has replaced Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar’s photo with that of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the CM’s office in the Delhi Secretariat and Assembly, as well as in the offices of all ministers in the Delhi Secretariat. Do they believe that the Prime Minister is greater than Babasaheb Ambedkar and can take his place?” she asked.
Atishi claimed that where Ambedkar’s portrait once hung, there is now a photo of Narendra Modi. “Similarly, in the Vidhan Sabha and various Delhi government offices, Ambedkar’s photo has been replaced by Modi’s photo,” she said. However, BJP was quick to respond to the comment saying AAP is doing drama to divert attention from the CAG report.
“The party (AAP) knows nothing except quarrels. No one can remove the portraits of Dr. Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar and Shaheed Bhagat Singh and neither have we removed them. They are doing this kind of drama to divert attention,” said Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa.
Meanwhile, commenting on the AAP MLAs’ suspension, Delhi minister Ravinder Indraj Singh said, “This is not a protest. These AAP leaders are scared... They are trying to create unrest in the assembly instead of resigning. They are trying to hide something.”
Singh’s Cabinet colleague Ashish Sood alleged that AAP was attempting to divert attention from corruption during its term in office. “Whenever AAP tries to create a ruckus, it is to cover up its corruption. The CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General) report will expose its wrongdoings.” On Monday, AAP alleged that portraits of Ambedkar and Bhagat Singh were removed from CM Rekha Gupta’s office. However, the BJP accused AAP of trying to divert attention from the CAG reports.