Delhi Assembly witnesses BJP-AAP clash over absence of Question Hour
Exchange triggers noisy scenes in the House, with members of BJP and AAP trading accusations over functioning of Delhi Assembly
A war of words broke out between the BJP and AAP in the Delhi Assembly on Friday after AAP members questioned the absence of a dedicated Question Hour in the ongoing Monsoon Session, prompting ministers to accuse the previous AAP government of failing to hold Question Hour regularly during its tenure.
Raising the issue during a discussion under Section 280, AAP MLA Jarnail Singh said the provision only allowed legislators to raise constituency-related issues and did not require the government to respond. He questioned why a Question Hour had not been included in the session and sought a response from the Food and Supplies Minister over alleged food adulteration.
Responding to the criticism, Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra rejected the allegations and turned the attack on the previous AAP government. He accused the AAP government of failing to conduct regular Question Hours. He claimed that no Question Hour was held after March 2022, for most of 2023, and in 2024.
“You are questioning us over Question Hour, but your own government hardly held one. For five years, you did not allow the House to function the way it should have,” Mishra said. He also criticised Leader of Opposition Atishi, alleging that she remained absent from the House.
PWD Minister Parvesh Verma also hit back at the Opposition, saying it was objecting because the BJP government was implementing its poll promises, including the Rs 2,500 monthly financial assistance scheme for eligible women.
“The government is delivering on its commitments and that is making the Opposition uncomfortable. During your five years in office, the Assembly met 74 times, but Question Hour was held only nine times, and not even once in 2024,” Verma said.
He added that if the Opposition had any grievance, the Leader of Opposition should raise it with the government.
“If the Opposition has any issue, the Leader of Opposition should come and speak to us. First find the Leader of Opposition and bring her here,” he said.
The exchange triggered noisy scenes in the House, with members of both parties trading accusations over the functioning of the Assembly and each other’s legislative records.
