NEW DELHI: AAP MLAs staged a protest outside the Delhi Assembly on Thursday, accusing the BJP-led Delhi government of barring their entry into the premises ahead of the third day of the ongoing session.
The opposition party further claimed that their members were being denied their rightful participation in the assembly proceedings.
Following the protest, Leader of Opposition (LoP) Atishi wrote to President Droupadi Murmu, requesting an appointment to meet with her, along with AAP MLAs, to discuss the expulsion of 21 AAP MLAs from the assembly and the alleged removal of portraits of Dr BR Ambedkar and Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh from various government offices.
The controversy began on the second day of the session when Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta suspended 21 AAP MLAs for obstructing Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena’s address to the House.
As the L-G began his speech, the AAP MLAs raised slogans against the BJP government, prompting Speaker Gupta to expel them for the day. Their suspension was later extended to three days. Notably, AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan, who was absent from the House on the second day, joined the session on the third day, where he took the oath of office.
Speaker Gupta defended the suspension, calling the disruption of the LG’s address a serious violation of the Assembly’s decorum. He emphasised that expelled members are expected to leave the Assembly premises but can participate in proceedings once their suspension ends.
In her letter to the President, LoP Atishi accused the ruling BJP of overstepping democratic boundaries, claiming that the Delhi government had “crossed all limits of dictatorship” since assuming power.