Disruptions in MCD House as AAP, BJP councillors spar
The MCD House on Wednesday witnessed repeated disruptions as AAP councillors staged protests on multiple occasions, stalling proceedings over issues ranging from delayed arrival of Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh to taking political credit over Operation Sindoor and the pending appointment of BJP’s Leader of the House.
The session, scheduled for 2:30 pm, began on a sour note after the Mayor arrived 15 minutes late, drawing sharp objections from AAP councillors. As soon as he entered, Leader of Opposition Ankush Narang held up a clock in front of the dais in a symbolic protest over the delay.
The uproar intensified shortly after the proceedings began when the Mayor lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the success of Operation Sindoor — a military strike in response to the killing of innocent tourists near Pahalgam in Kashmir. AAP councillors objected, insisting that the credit belonged solely to the armed forces, not the political leadership. The disagreement quickly escalated into loud sloganeering, halting proceedings. Congress councillors, meanwhile, raised banners in support of Colonel Sofia Qureshi, further adding to the commotion.
The House was disrupted again when the Mayor allowed Mukesh Goel, leader of the Indraprastha Vikas Party, to read a condolence message. AAP councillors expressed dismay, arguing that Goel, a former member of their party, was being unduly prioritised while they were sidelined.
Tensions peaked when the Mayor did not allow Narang to speak, prompting the fourth disruption. AAP members accused the Mayor of bias and questioned the impartiality of the proceedings.
A final disruption occurred during a discussion on mosquito-borne diseases and waterlogging, when Goel was given the floor again. AAP councillors protested sharply, and BJP councillors too joined in the sloganeering, plunging the House into further chaos.
The deadlock deepened when the issue of BJP’s failure to appoint a Leader of the House came up. As the Mayor directed BJP councillor Satya Sharma to read the condolence proposal, AAP councillors objected, asserting that she had not been officially designated to the post. In a dramatic turn, AAP councillors tried to physically prevent her from reading the proposal and even snatched the document from her on two occasions.
In response to the protests, Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh remarked that “all these BJP councillors are Leaders of the House”, prompting sarcastic retorts from the AAP bench, questioning why the party had not named a formal leader if that was indeed the case.
