Monsoon session: BJP targets CM Kejriwal for making himself scarce

Ananya Panda

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 11

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s absence from the entire Monsoon session of Delhi Assembly drew sharp criticism from the Opposition BJP leaders and sacked minister Kapil Mishra who was marshalled out of the House after he brandished a banner accusing Kejriwal of “bunking off” the session.

Beginning on a chaotic note with Mishra lashing out at Kejriwal for giving the four-day Monsoon session a miss followed by Speaker Ram Niwas Goel suspending him for the day—the session’s closing day witnessed heated arguments between the ruling AAP and Opposition MLAs over the death of two drivers of Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) during the wee hours today in an accident near Madhuban Chowk in Rohini and the appointment of new chairperson of the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC).

Raising the issue in the House, Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta demanded Rs 1-crore compensation to the families of both the drivers and a government job to one person from each family, but his move did not go down well with some of the AAP legislators, resulting in chaos.

On the issue, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia urged legislators of his own AAP as well as of the Opposition BJP not to do politics with the dead. Later, he and Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot assured compensation will be provided to the deceased’s families along with a government job to one member each of the affected families.

Later briefing reporters, Gupta joined by colleague Manjinder Singh Sirsa questioned the AAP government’s attitude on the issue of one crore compensation to the deceased DTC staff and trained guns at Kejriwal for not attending a single sitting of the Monsoon session.

“We hope he'll come for formality.... the Chief Minister doesn’t have even a single portfolio. Still he doesn’t have time. This shows he is non- serious and least bothered about people's problems,” said Sirsa.

“When we demanded Rs 1 crore for the deceased we were targeted by the ruling MLAs even though we just reminded the govt of its own policy. The govt is giving political replies to the concerns of the Opposition. If the govt declares compensation as per its own convenience then it is unfortunate. Breakdowns have become so regular and govt is trying to wash its hands off...,” the LoP said briefing reporters.

The Rajouri Garden MLA accused the AAP govt of “misleading” the House on giving weight to seniority in the matter of guest teachers referring to the Uma Devi judgement in which he claimed the Rajasthan High court had given a stay on experience.

“The AAP govt in the court had said the guest and contractual teachers are not entitled to permanent posts and they will be recruited as per norms. Even the Delhi High Court had pulled it cup for not filling up 27,000 vacancies of teachers in Delhi govt as well as municipal run schools. The fact is that the govt is not serious about giving weight to experience of guest teachers and didn’t support its argument with the Supreme Court judgement as it is claiming now,” Sirsa claimed.

Jain to meet Union Home Minister on anti-Sikh riots

Home Minister Satyendra Jain told the House he along with a delegation of legislators will meet Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and request the Centre to expedite the SIT probe into the 1984 anti-Sikh riots issue which was raised for the second time this session by ruling party MLA Jarnail Singh.

Jain said he will seek an appointment soon with the Home Minister in his reply to wind up the discussion on the matter. Jarnail questioned the delay in the SIT inquiry, stating: “In 1984, 5000 Sikhs were murdered and justice still eludes. Everyone knows it was a state-sponsored genocide, with committees and investigation just being eyewash. Don't want any politics on the issue. Years have passed. It is the last opportunity to do some justice. Do it or else we will think the BJP has some collusion with the Congress.”

Sisodia open to idea on West DTU campus

Ahead of the inauguration of the East campus of Delhi Technical University, Education Minister Manish Sisodia today welcomed the proposal of Sirsa to open a campus of DTU in West Delhi saying he is ready for such a move and suggested all west Delhi MLAs to look for spaces at viable rent.

Sisodia also thanked rebel AAP Timarpur legislator Pankaj Pushkar, known to be close to Swaraj Abhiyan leaders, for the latter’s remark that on one side it is “fake nationalism and on the other it is educated nationalism”.

Ahead of Bawana bypoll, the issue of delay in installation of CCTV cameras was also discussed in the House.