AAP protests Speaker’s 'refusal' to discuss crime surge in Capital
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday accused Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta of shielding the BJP-led government’s “failures” by refusing to allow a discussion on the deteriorating law and order situation in the national capital.
AAP MLAs, including Leader of Opposition (LoP) Atishi, were expelled from the House after demanding an apology from BJP minister Parvesh Verma for allegedly making an offensive remark against Atishi.
Slamming the Speaker’s decision, Atishi stated that incidents of rape, murder, gang wars and open drug trade were becoming increasingly common in Delhi, yet the Assembly was being prevented from debating these critical issues.
“If the problems of Delhi’s people cannot be raised in the Assembly, then where will they be discussed?” she said. “The BJP’s double-engine government has completely failed to maintain law and order, and now the Speaker is trying to suppress any discussion to cover up their failures,” she added.
Atishi pointed out that while the AAP government in Punjab has been cracking down on drug dealers and taking strict action against criminals, the BJP government in Delhi refuses to even acknowledge the crisis.
“If law and order is not to be discussed, then why did Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Home Minister Ashish Sood met Home Minister Amit Shah about it? If they don’t want to act, why make empty claims?” she questioned.
The controversy erupted when Atishi questioned CM Gupta’s absence from the Assembly during Question Hour for two consecutive days.
The Speaker allowed Verma to respond, but instead of answering, he reportedly pointed at Atishi and said, “Where did you bring her from?” the AAP alleged.
AAP MLA Kuldeep Kumar condemned the remark, stating, “Can this be the language of the Assembly? No one should speak like this, even outside the House. It reflects the BJP’s deeply ingrained misogyny.”
“Earlier, BJP leader Ramesh Bidhuri used objectionable language against Atishi. If this is how they treat the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, how do they treat ordinary women in Delhi?” he asked.
AAP leaders demanded that Verma’s comments be expunged from the official records and that he issue an apology.
