Delhi Assembly Secretariat issues notice to Atishi, AAP MLAs for ‘breach of privilege’

The notices to AAP leader Atishi and her colleagues come following a complaint of “contempt and breach” from Deputy Speaker Mohan Singh Bisht, BJP MLAs Abhay Verma, Raj Kumar Bhatia and Tilak Verma.

The Secretariat has asked the AAP MLAs to submit their comments before May 31, which will be placed before Speaker Vijender Gupta.

On Thursday, a row erupted after the GPC meeting; AAP members alleged that BJP members did not allow a proposal they moved for the installation of Mata Savitribai Phule’s portrait in the Assembly.

However, officials from the Vidhan Sabha Secretariat said the AAP did not submit any written proposal and just raised the matter verbally.

During the May 21 meeting, a proposal was passed to install portraits of Veer Savarkar, Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, and Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati in the Delhi Assembly’s chambers.

In their complaint to the Speaker, BJP members alleged that during deliberations, members of the AAP in the GPC made a passing suggestion that the portrait of Savitribai Phule can also be installed.

“However, we were shocked to find out that members of the AAP… declared in a press conference that the ruling party members opposed their proposal and did not allow the portrait of Mata Savitribai Phule to be installed,” read the complaint letter.

The BJP leaders said AAP MLAs Zubair Ahmed and Dhingan were at the meeting.

Alleging that AAP leaders disclosed deliberations of the meeting at a press conference and presented “twisted” and “false” facts before the public, the BJP MLAs also said, “… Our Rules provide that deliberations cannot be disclosed unless the report is submitted to the House or the Speaker allows it… However, these Members not only disclosed the deliberation, but, with a political and mischievous agenda, deliberately twisted facts… The proceedings of the meeting will prove that nothing as alleged by the AAP members transpired in the meeting. In fact, their informal suggestion was recorded in the meetings for a suitable decision of the Speaker,” the complaint read further.

The letter also accused LOP Atishi and other AAP MLAs of “misrepresenting” the matter in a false manner for “cheap political mileage”.

“Not only have they insulted us personally and our beloved party, but they have dragged the privileged institution of the Assembly and its Committees into the public domain to besmirch the reputation of the ruling party members and cast aspersions on the working of the committees,” the complaint added.

Condemning the move, AAP said it would not allow the BJP’s “disdain” for social icons to prevail. Addressing a press conference along with party leader Rakhi Bidlan, AAP MLA Kuldeep Kumar said, “Everyone knows the BJP’s mentality. Apparently, demanding the portrait of a Dalit woman teacher in the Assembly is such a grave offence that we were served privilege violation notices…”

He added, “The BJP is trying to intimidate us just as they once tried to silence Mata Savitribai and Mahatma Jyotiba Phule. But we will not be silenced. This is the same BJP whose parent organisation, the RSS, has always insulted the Constitution. To this day, they have never appointed a Dalit or a woman to any major position within their core leadership.”

Bidlan asserted, “The BJP’s anti-Dalit and anti-women mindset is well known. Be it Dalit icons, religious leaders, or the nation’s first female teacher, the BJP respects none. This incident proves the BJP’s hostility not only towards Dalits and women but also towards those who laid the foundation of education in India…”