Uproar in Assembly after LoP takes a ‘stand’ atop bench

Kejriwal asked him to hand over the report on the “pension scam” committed by his wife before calling the Delhi government corrupt. He blamed the BJP-ruled Central government for inaction on corruption cases in Delhi after they took over the Anti Corruption Branch (ACB).

“Tomorrow, once I get the report of the pension scam committed by your wife, I will give you the report of the DJB fact finding committee,” said Kejriwal, in response to the allegations of Gupta concerning the DJB tanker scam. 

The Chief Minister also stated that the BJP had increased protection against various scams after the Centre took over the ACB. 

“The ACB is not in our hands,” he pointed out, explaining why a probe had not been ordered into the so-called water tanker scam. “Everyone knows that the Congress and BJP are hand in glove (when it comes to corruption),” he added. “They are like pati and patni (husband and wife). 

The Chief Minister slammed the BJP, claiming they did nothing but create a ruckus. “They also know how to abuse women,” he said, referring to BJP MLA O P Sharma, who has been suspended from the House for two sessions. He was suspended after verbally abusing  AAP MLA Alka Lamba. 

As the House started on Friday, Gupta brought up the ‘DJB tanker scam’. He accused the Chief Minister of sitting on the fact-finding report. Water Minister Kapil Mishra had recommended lodging an FIR for the scam which is worth Rs 400 crore. Ram Niwas Goel refused to raise the issue and Gupta’s mike was switched off when he ignored the Speaker’s instructions. Gupta responded by standing on his bench and screaming about the scam.

“This is shameful. I do not remember another instance where a member stood on his bench this way. You hijack all the time of the House,” the Speaker said. Gupta didn’t listen and he kept on protesting as the Speaker talked. Goel finally requested the lawmaker to sit reminding him that he is the Leader of Opposition. He walked out of the House. The BJP has three MLAs in a 70-member Delhi Assembly, dominated by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party, which holds all the other seats. Kejriwal was present in the House during Gupta’s protest. The scam is said to have taken shape during the tenure of former Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit. Kapil Mishra submitted a fact-finding report to Chief Minister Arvind 

Kejriwal on August 25, 2015, recommending an FIR.