The Delhi Assembly Secretariat has asked Aam Aadmi Party leader and Leader of the Opposition Atishi to provide a written response to her 'malafide' comments on the suspension of her party's MLAs during the Winter Session. The issue stems from the suspension of four AAP legislators earlier this month. Speaker Vijender Gupta has refuted her claims as factually incorrect.
The Delhi Assembly Secretariat on Wednesday wrote to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Leader of the Opposition Atishi, seeking a written response to her "incorrect and malafide" statements regarding the reasons for suspending her party's MLAs during the Winter Session earlier this month.
On Speaker Vijender Gupta's orders, the matter has been referred to the Committee of Privileges. The committee chairman has requested Atishi's written comments by February 6.
Four AAP MLAs—Sanjeev Jha, Som Dutt, Kuldeep Kumar, and Jarnail Singh—were marshalled out of the House on January 6, the first day of the four-day session. They were accused of causing disrespect to the Lieutenant Governor and the House by disrupting proceedings and failing to respect constitutional values. The Speaker subsequently suspended them for the remainder of the session.
Speaker Gupta refuted the former Chief Minister's alleged claim that the MLAs were suspended for wearing masks to protest rising air pollution. He described her allegation as "factually incorrect" and a "deliberate attempt to mislead" the House and the public. The suspensions were solely for disrupting House proceedings, not for wearing masks, he clarified, emphasizing that the action was taken to maintain the order, dignity, and authority of the Assembly.
This episode highlights ongoing tensions between AAP and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in Delhi's politics, where disputes over legislative procedures are common.
