Speaker refutes Kejriwal’s claims about tunnel, gallows in Assembly

Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta on Tuesday clarified that the room Arvind Kejriwal unveiled in 2022 as a British-era gallows is actually a “tiffin room” – not a colonial-era execution chamber as the former CM had claimed.

“The truth is that no gallows ever existed there, nor does one exist today. The room in question is, in fact, a tiffin room,” the Speaker apprised the House.

He also refuted the claims of Kejriwal regarding the presence of a tunnel in the Assembly premises.

“Upon consulting historians on the matter, it has been clarified that no such tunnel exists. What is being referred to is, in fact, ducting — space created for ventilation. At that time, resources were limited, and whenever such buildings were constructed underground, space was left for ventilation ducts. This is not unique to this building — similar provisions exist in the Parliament of India as well”, he added.

Notably in 2022, Kejriwal had unveiled a renovated room on the Assembly premises and claimed that it was used by the Britishers as a “phansi ghar” to execute freedom fighters.

“Where deliberations take place, there is Parliament; where there is an Assembly — how can there possibly be a gallows within the same premises? This is a natural question,” Gupta said. Citing a map, the Speaker asserted the room was in fact a tiffin room in the colonial times. The wooden lift within it was meant for carrying food and other items.

The room of the Deputy Speaker, Mohan Singh Bisht, is shown on the map as the “Viceroy’s Room” and adjacent to it is a smoking room, the map explicitly states the intended use of each room, he stated.

Following this, the BJP legislators demanded an apology from AAP chief Kejriwal for misleading the public.

In reaction to this, LoP Atishi questioned the relevance of raising the issue, saying there were many pressing problems being faced by the people of Delhi that need the attention of the House.