HC asks BJP MLA, AAP’s Alka Lamba to mend fences

AAP MLA Alka Lamba and BJP MLA O P Sharma were asked to appear at the Delhi High Court “with an open mind” to resolve the issue. OP Sharma was suspended from the Delhi legislative assembly for allegedly making derogatory remarks against Lamba. Justice Manmohan Singh asked them to come on Thursday (tomorrow) morning, saying “I will talk to them and finish the issue.”

The court’s direction came while hearing a petition filed by Sharma, who was present in the courtroom on Wednesday, against his suspension from the House on March 31. He was suspended for the next two sessions. A two-day special session of the Delhi legislative Assembly would commence on Thursday afternoon at 2 pm.

During the hearing, senior advocate Sudhir Nandrajog, who appeared on behalf of the Delhi government, claimed before the court that Sharma has not “regretted” on what he had said about Lamba. Referring to a report of the Ethics Committee of the Delhi Assembly on the issue, he said that Sharma was given several chances to express regret on his remarks but had refused.

“He (Sharma) had no remorse for what he said. He said his intention was not wrong. The Ethics Committee was left with no option. There was discussion on his expulsion from the House as well. The Leader of Opposition of the House had also made efforts to make him express regret, but Sharma refused,” he said. To this, the court asked whether there was any chance of resolving the issue. In his response, Nandrajog said, “Yes. If he (Sharma) repents, there is a chance.” 

Senior advocate Aman Lekhi, who represented Sharma, claimed that there were substantial lapses committed while suspending the BJP MLA for two sessions. Lekhi said in case the issue was not resolved tomorrow between his client and the AAP MLA, his submissions on the petition should be heard.

“If the government is ready, you should resolve it. But come with an open mind. I just don’t want incidents like this to occur. I fail to understand why incidents like this occur when people have so much freedom,” the court said. 

The Ethics Committee had earlier “unanimously” recommended stripping Sharma of his membership for his remarks against Lamba and being “unrepentant” about it. Sharma had earlier said “my intention was not to hurt Lamba as she is like my sister, but if she does feel offended, I express regret over it”.