Delhi speaker left ‘powerless’, Kejriwal threatens to resign
14 Feb 2014 5:50 AM IST
Opposition BJP outsmarted the treasury benches bringing in a resolution suspending rule 293, which gives powers to the speaker to arbitrate.
The resolution was passed with a majority of 40 MLAs supporting it and effectively ending the day’s tumultuous proceedings and chief minister Arvind Kejriwal threatening to resign if he was not allowed to table the Jan Lokpal Bill and Swaraj Bill on Friday. With leader of opposition Dr Harsh Vardhan saying that their protest would continue till Bharti resigned, the functioning of the house looked remote even on Friday. The special session of the Vidhan Sabha has been convened for the passage of these two bills, which was on the top of the political agenda of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
The day began with the opposition BJP vociferously demanding Delhi law minister Somnath Bharti’s resignation for his alleged misbehaviour with African women. The Congress MLAs, who are otherwise supporting the government, looked to function with tacit understanding in putting the government on the back foot.
They repeatedly rushed to the well of the House demanding resignation of Bharti, who has been embroiled in a controversy over a raid on the house of African women in the middle of the night.
Speaker MS Dhir had to adjourn the proceedings four times since the BJP did not let the house function each time it resumed. Party legislators trooped into the well of the house and shouted anti-government slogans. When the house resumed for the fourth time, the resolution was brought to leave Speaker’s powers suspended. BJP legislators Kulwant Rana and RP Singh heckled Bharti and tore papers kept on his table. Congress legislators also joined the chorus and demanded Bharti’s resignation. Congress legislator Asif Muhammad Khan created not only a ruckus but snatched the agenda copy from Arvind Kejriwal’s desk and tore it up. Asif has been demanding institution of fresh enquiry in Batla House encounter as was promised by AAP in its manifesto.
The resolution was passed with a majority of 40 MLAs supporting it and effectively ending the day’s tumultuous proceedings and chief minister Arvind Kejriwal threatening to resign if he was not allowed to table the Jan Lokpal Bill and Swaraj Bill on Friday. With leader of opposition Dr Harsh Vardhan saying that their protest would continue till Bharti resigned, the functioning of the house looked remote even on Friday. The special session of the Vidhan Sabha has been convened for the passage of these two bills, which was on the top of the political agenda of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
The day began with the opposition BJP vociferously demanding Delhi law minister Somnath Bharti’s resignation for his alleged misbehaviour with African women. The Congress MLAs, who are otherwise supporting the government, looked to function with tacit understanding in putting the government on the back foot.
They repeatedly rushed to the well of the House demanding resignation of Bharti, who has been embroiled in a controversy over a raid on the house of African women in the middle of the night.
Speaker MS Dhir had to adjourn the proceedings four times since the BJP did not let the house function each time it resumed. Party legislators trooped into the well of the house and shouted anti-government slogans. When the house resumed for the fourth time, the resolution was brought to leave Speaker’s powers suspended. BJP legislators Kulwant Rana and RP Singh heckled Bharti and tore papers kept on his table. Congress legislators also joined the chorus and demanded Bharti’s resignation. Congress legislator Asif Muhammad Khan created not only a ruckus but snatched the agenda copy from Arvind Kejriwal’s desk and tore it up. Asif has been demanding institution of fresh enquiry in Batla House encounter as was promised by AAP in its manifesto.
Next Story
