MLA mashalled out, BJP cries foul

A BJP MLA was on Tuesday marshalled out of the Delhi Assembly for being critical about the Speaker’s role during the debate over the Union Home Ministry’s notification on distribution of powers between the Lieutenant Governor’s office and the Delhi Chief Minister’s office. 

Speaker Ram Niwas Goel called in marshals to take Vishwas Nagar MLA Om Prakash Sharma out of the Assembly when he criticised adopting a partisan approach. His comments were expunged from the proceedings of the House. 

Ruckus in the Assembly started after AAP legislator Alka Lamba raised questions about Lieutenant Governor’s past association with a corporate group. 

The BJP members in the House insisted Lamba to apologise for her remark.Om Prakash Sharma was expelled on ground of impropriety when he made a personal attack on the Speaker. “Foul language was being used against the LG and (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi-ji, and I told the Speaker that he shouldn’t act like a member,” he said.

“Speaker is misusing his post and being unfair,” he added. Later, Delhi BJP president Satish Upadhyay in a statement said, “The way AAP legislators today demanded powers to impeach the LG and turned out BJP legislator Om Prakash Sharma from the House proved that Delhi is witnessing an autocratic government with no concern for democratic values.”

‘Suspend House’Alleging the AAP MLAs of using “unparliamentarily” language against Jung and the Modi-led government, leader of the BJP Legislature Party Vijender Gupta said the LG should put the Assembly in suspended animation.  Gupta said the impasse between the Centre and the Delhi government is because of the latter’s negative attitude.  He reminded the Assembly that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal wanted to stall Republic Day parade not long ago. 

On the MHA’s May 21 circular on appointment and transfer of bureaucrats, the BJP MLA from Rohini said the notification was actually a “clarification” to specify constitutional structures already in existence. 

“It is to specify that Delhi doesn’t have a state cadre of its own and the centre must intervene,” he said. “Who says Delhi CM can’t appoint officials? He has powers to appoint officials below the rank of secretaries,” Gupta added. 

A proposal was moved against the MHA notification on Tuesday by the ruling AAP during the two-day emergency session.