Opposition disrupts Kejriwal's speech

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was interrupted by the BJP and Congress MLAs in the Delhi Assembly. The BJP and Congress MLAs were hand in glove against the government on tabling of the Jan Lokpal Bill, citing the Lieutenant Governor’s advice that the government should have taken prior permission from him before tabling the bill.

The session started peacefully with opposition members raising the issue of working on a gazetted holiday, the birth anniversary of saint Ravidas.

The opposition and the Congress then requested the Speaker to read a letter which he received from the Lieutenant Governor and halted proceedings. The BJP and Congress MLAs trooped to the well, demanding voting for discussion on the letter, forcing him to adjourn the Assembly for 20 minutes at 2:50 pm.

As the House re-assembled at 3:20 pm, Speaker M S Dhir read out the letter. “As per Section 22 (3) of the Government of NCT of Delhi Act,1991, the said Bill, being a financial bill, is to be sent to the Lt Governor, and as per Rule 55 (1) of Transaction of Business of Govt. Of NCT rules 1993, the Lt Governor is required to seek  prior reference to the Central government before being place in the Delhi Legislative Assembly,” the letter said.

The Congress and the BJP, however, maintained that they were not against the bill, but the process of tabling the bill.

Education Minister Manish Sisodia tried to pacify the Opposition and the Congress and demanded discussion on the letter. “Why can’t we have a discussion on the letter?” he asked.
The BJP MLAs refused to have a discussion, claiming that the Lieutenant Governor’s order could not be discussed and only followed. AAP MLAs demanded discussion on the Jan Lokpal Bill, but the BJP and the Congress refused.

Putting aside demands of the Opposition and the Congress, Sisodia sought permission from the Speaker for tabling the Jan Lokpal Bill.

The Speaker gave his nod. The BJP and Congress MLAs then trooped to the well, shouting slogans against the government, forcing him to adjourn the House again for 20 minutes at 3:50 pm.

The confusion prevailed till the House re-assembled at 4:35 pm. The Speaker then called for voting on tabling of the Jan Lokpal Bill. Forty-two of the 70 MLAs voted against tabling of the bill. As a result, the bill was dropped.

The government, however, tabled the Re-appropriation Bill to release Rs 372 crore for power subsidy. The bill was supported by the Congress party and passed by the House.