New Delhi: Describing the disruption by BJP MLAs in the speech of Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena as a violation of the tradition of the House, the Delhi Assembly passed a resolution on Friday and sent it to the Ethics Committee. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal termed it a violation of the decorum of the House, while Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Ramvir Singh Bidhuri termed the decision to evict BJP MLAs by marshals as “dictatorship”.
Earlier in the day, as Saxena began his address to the House on the first day of the budget session, BJP legislators raised slogans demanding Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s resignation over alleged corruption in the Delhi Excise Policy. The AAP MLAs protested against the BJP over the Adani case and raised slogans against it.
Three BJP MLAs — Jitendra Mahajan, OP Sharma and Anil Bajpai — were evicted by the marshals on the instructions of Speaker Ram Niwas Goel, while the rest staged a walkout. Later LG continued his speech. Delhi cabinet minister Saurabh Bhardwaj moved a resolution terming the ruckus by BJP MLAs as contempt of the House, which was unanimously passed and sent to the Ethics Committee.
While moving the motion, Bhardwaj referred to Schedule 5 of the Legislative Assembly, which outlines the responsibility of the House in case of contempt of it by members during the Lt Governor’s address.
According to Schedule 5, a member who interrupts, raises slogans, questions, walks out of the House or talks about a point of order before or after the Lieutenant Governor’s address to the House shall be treated for contempt of the House. The House can solve this problem by passing a resolution in this regard.
Bhardwaj insisted that the matter concerned the sanctity of the House and traditions should be maintained despite differences with the LG.
He urged all the members to respect the decorum of the House and maintain the integrity of the institution.
Talking to reporters later, he said, “We have differences with the Lieutenant Governor.
But these differences exist because we want the LG to maintain the dignity of democracy and constitutional supremacy. The Delhi government tells the LG that he should act according to the constitution and follow the law.
“While passing the resolution, the House could have given a decision on this matter even today. It is the right of the House. But the House has referred the matter to the Ethics Committee so that the Ethics Committee may examine the matter and give its recommendation to the High Court. House,” Bhardwaj said.
