House sees a moment of bonhomie after Oppn welcomes HC ruling

NEW DELHI:Moments after the Delhi High Court's breather to the 20 disqualified AAP MLAs came, the Assembly today seemed to be caught up in a "rare bonhomie" with the BJP first welcoming and congratulating the ruling side over the High Court's ruling and later being on one page over the bureaucracy's "disregard" of the House and refusal to give replies to the questions of the elected representatives of the government.

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 23

Moments after the Delhi High Court's breather to the 20 disqualified AAP MLAs came, the Assembly today seemed to be caught up in a "rare bonhomie" with the BJP first welcoming and congratulating the ruling side over the High Court's ruling and later being on one page over the bureaucracy's "disregard" of the House and refusal to give replies to the questions of the elected representatives of the government.

During the Question Hour, several AAP MLAs proposed to offer lunch treat next week from their side to celebrate the occasion and later a unanimous resolution, moved by an AAP MLA, was passed by the House withdrawing the suspension of BJP MLA O P Sharma.

Sharma had been suspended for the entire budget session on Monday by Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel after the former was accused of making "derogatory" remarks while objecting to the presence of Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot over the office-of-profit issue.

Amid the happy mood, Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta reiterated his request of allowing Sharma in the House. Earlier Gupta welcomed the High Court verdict of setting aside the Election Commission's decision to disqualify the 20 AAP MLAs for holding office of profit as parliamentary secretaries of ministers of the AAP government. "We respect the High Court order," said Gupta.

Gupta's party colleague Manjinder Singh Sirsa congratulated the AAP MLAs and said he "never wished bad for them in prayers" followed by Deputy Chief Minister appreciating the opposition.

It’s a victory of truth: CM

The AAP was left in cheers today while the state BJP and its MLAs in a smart posturing congratulated the ruling party and the legislators after the Delhi High Court gave its verdict on disqualification of 20 AAP MLAs in office-of-profit case. The Congress unit of the city said there is no reason for the AAP to get elated as the court has not disputed the merit of the case.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal hailed the ruling terming it a “victory of truth”. Later all the AAP legislators met Kejriwal at his residence after the day’s ongoing session of the Assembly.

“The elected representatives of Delhi were wrongfully disqualified. The high court has given justice to the people of Delhi. It is their big victory. Congratulations to the people of Delhi,” the AAP chief tweeted.

The Opposition BJP put up a brave face, saying it respects the High Court’s order and said the move of setting aside disqualification of 20 AAP MLAs in the office-of-profit case was a unique “proof of an independent” judiciary.

“We welcomed the directions of the High Court and the Election Commission in the past. Similarly, we respect today's decision. It is a unique proof of the independence of judiciary and freedom in the Indian democracy,” said BJP state unit chief Manoj Tiwari even as he point out that the Election Commission has not absolved the MLAs from the charge.

State Congress chief Ajay Maken said the High Court has only remanded back the case to the EC for another hearing and the office-of-profit charges remain.