Delhi Assembly session ends on a stormy note

The last day of the Delhi Assembly session saw exchange of heated words between the MLAs of the ruling BJP and Opposition AAP on Monday, days after the latter returned to the Vidhan Sabha after the completion of their suspension period.

Throughout the day, discussions continued over the CAG report on public health infrastructure where the BJP MLAs attacked the previous AAP regime on significant shortcomings and irregularities highlighted in the report.

The CAG report, which was tabled in the Assembly on February 28, has highlighted several critical lapses and irregularities in the Delhi Government’s Health Department.

Speaker Vijender Gupta ruled that the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the House would prioritise the examination of the CAG report and submit its findings within three months. As per Gupta’s directions, the Assembly Secretariat would immediately forward the report to the Health Department, which must submit its Action Taken Note (ATN) within one month.

During the discussion in the House, tension flared midway following which Speaker Gupta directed marshals to take out AAP MLA Anil Jha for using “unparliamentary” language.

Jha had made comments while BJP MLA Ashok Goel was slamming the previous AAP government over the condition of health services under AAP rule.

Speaking during the discussion, senior AAP leader and MLA Gopal Rai said even the CAG report acknowledges that, among all state healthcare models in India, Delhi’s healthcare system ranked first. He said the AAP government took significant steps to provide quality healthcare to Delhiites, introducing Mohalla Clinics for the first time in the country.

On the issue of recruitment shortages, he explained that the AAP government made every effort to improve healthcare services.

“It was due to this commitment that India’s first Mohalla Clinics were established in Delhi,” he said, adding that the government struggled to recruit even a single data entry operator for hospitals due to the Centre’s interference.

The Assembly also witnessed high drama during Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s address following which AAP MLA Jarnail Singh was marshalled out for disrupting the proceedings. This prompted a walkout by all AAP legislators.

Delhi Minister Ashish Sood said the Leader of Opposition, who once waived the CAG report, now questions the need to discuss it. “The opposition’s irresponsible behaviour is clear...This shows the hollowness of the opposition, who has no answers to their exposed corruption,” Sood said.

Talking to mediapersons outside the Assembly, LoP Atishi said the BJP only wants to abuse AAP and Arvind Kejriwal and do nothing else. “I want to tell the BJP that the people of Delhi have elected you not to abuse, but to work... As soon as we raised the issue of Rs 2,500 in the House, the Speaker and BJP MLAs immediately got furious, switched off our mikes and we were thrown out...,” she said.