BJP MLA suspended over derogatory remark

A BJP MLA was suspended from the Delhi Assembly after he made a derogatory reference against Aam Aadmi Party’s legislator Alka Lamba who nearly came to blows with him over it.

The House transacted no business on Tuesday following the uproar. During the altercation, AAP MLAs rushed to the BJP MLA O P Sharma and Lamba was seen taking a swing at him. The Opposition claimed he was slapped, but Lamba denied it. Though O P Sharma’s remark could not be heard in the din, Speaker Ram Niwas Goel lost his cool and asked Sharma to apologise.

When the BJP MLA refused to do so, Goel quoted him saying that people should know what kind of unparliamentary language was used by the lawmaker. “BJP MLA called Lamba ‘a woman who roams on the streets’,” said Goel.

The ruckus ensued after Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta criticised Lamba for calling homeless people drug addicts. “The pathetic condition of night shelters shows apathy of the AAP government towards the homeless people. One of its MLA (Lamba) says the homeless people die as they are victims of the substance abuse,” said Gupta.

To which Lamba replied, “The BJP is trying to shield those who indulge in the illegal trade of drugs in the city.”