Stormy Delhi Assembly session after fresh AAP tirade against L-G Saxena

Samad Hoque

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 26

The first day of the special Assembly session on Thursday began on a stormy note with AAP-led Delhi Government cornering Lieutenant Governor over the issues of bus marshals and tree felling in the Satbari Ridge area. A special session was called for September 26-27 following Atishi being elected as the leader of AAP in the legislative party.

While Speaker Ram Niwas Goel listed the names of leaders who will raise the issue, the BJP demanded that the issue of delay in tabling Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) reports in the House be discussed.

Kejriwal moves from seat no 1 to 41

• In a powerplay of sorts, the newly appointed CM Atishi who previously occupied seat number 19 in the Delhi Assembly is now positioned at seat no 1.
• Her predecessor Arvind Kejriwal now occupies seat number 41, a significant change from his earlier position at the head of the Assembly.
• Several other prominent figures have seen changes in their seating as well. Saurabh Bharadwaj, now holds the second seat, having moved from seat number eight.
• Mukesh Ahlawat, recently inducted into the Delhi cabinet, has been given seat number 14. Former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, has also been allocated seat number 41. TNS

AAP MLA from Kondli Kuldeep Kumar mentioned the issue of bus marshals. He held the L-G and BJP responsible for removal of 10,000 bus marshals and non-payment of their salaries.

The BJP demanded from the government to bring a proposal to reinstate the bus marshals and make them permanent. BJP MLA Mohan Singh Bisht said, “What stops you from bring a resolution to reinstate the bus marshals, the government is misleading and playing politics on the issue.”

Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta reminded the House that in a letter to the L-G on October 11, 2023, the then CM Arvind Kejriwal wrote that the correct legal position be ascertained and till it was determined, services of all civil defence volunteers may be terminated by October.

LoPGupta also proposed that a resolution be passed in the House to restore the jobs of the bus marshals and provide them with permanent employment.

In response, Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj announced an all-out push for the reinstatement of 10,000 bus marshals. Bhardwaj later tweeted, “BJP got trapped in the bus marshal issue today. A proposal was passed in the Delhi Assembly that on the first Navratri i.e. on 3rd October at 11 am, all the BJP and Aam Aadmi Party MLAs and all the ministers will go to meet LG sahab and get the bus marshals appointed”.

Post-lunch, AAP accused the L-G of getting 1,100 trees axed in the Satbari Ridge area without prior permission from the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, Gupta accused AAP of misleading the public regarding the issue of cutting down 422 trees to widen a road for the Central Armed Police Forces Institute of Medical Sciences (CAPFIMS).

Later, in the day, former CM Arvind Kejriwal, while addressing the House, targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “I always say Prime Minister Modi is very powerful and has a lot of resources, but Modi is not God. The God who is there is with us. I want to thank the Supreme Court.” he said. He also accused the BJP of conspiring against him and his party leaders to stop works in the National Capital.