Development works in respective areas of MLAs to speed up now

NEW DELHI: The 20 AAP MLAs, whose membership was restored by Delhi High Court on Friday, said that the development work would now speed up in their respective constituencies. The AAP MLAs were disqualified following the EC's recommendation for holding the office-of-profit.

Out of the 20 Aam Aadmi Party MLAs, about 12 legislators attended the House proceedings on Friday and said they had complete faith in the judiciary. They added that had the poll panel given them a proper hearing, there would have been no need to approach the court.

Kondli MLA Manoj Kumar said: "Development works were being affected in my constituency since my disqualification in the alleged office-of-profit case. Officers were not even picking up my phone."

Laxmi Nagar MLA Nitin Tyagi said the constituency works were being affected, especially people related daily problems. The Chandni Chowk MLA, Alka Lamba, said that due to her disqualification, she could not become a part of the budgetary process of the government and works were affected.

Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot, who too had been disqualified, said: "We had complete faith in the judiciary from day one. If EC gave proper hearing, we would not need to move to court." Asked whether he also has faith in the Election Commission, which will now hear the office-of-profit case afresh, Gahlot said he has faith in the poll panel and the MLAs will present their stand and make EC understand the matter.

Another AAP MLA, Anil Bajpai, said the truth has prevailed, welcoming the high court order. "If there had been a proper hearing by the Election Commission, the order of court would not have come," Bajpai said.