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Journalism of Courage
Kejriwal to appear before Privileges panel on March 6 over ‘Phansi Ghar’ row
The Privileges Committee is probing the controversy around ‘Phasi Ghar' — a purported Raj-era execution chamber in the assembly premises — that the previous AAP dispensation renovated and inaugurated in 2022.
AAP national convener and former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal celebrates after being discharged in the Delhi excise policy case on Friday. (Express photo by Amit Mehra)
After failing to appear before the Privileges Committee of the Delhi Assembly on several occasions in connection with the “phansi ghar” row, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, wrote to the panel on Tuesday, stating that he will be present before the committee on March 6 to answer its questions on the matter. He also demanded live-streaming of the proceedings.
The Privileges Committee is probing the controversy around ‘Phasi Ghar’ — a purported Raj-era execution chamber in the assembly premises — that the previous AAP dispensation renovated and inaugurated in 2022.
The row erupted last August after Speaker Vijender Gupta alleged that the former AAP government had falsely claimed that the assembly premises contained a British-era “phansi-ghar” and then renovated it, arguing that it was, in fact, a “tiffin room” used for carrying food and other items.
Sharing a copy of the letter he wrote to the Privileges Committee on X, Kejriwal stated, “Delhi is grappling with pollution, roads are broken, there are heaps of garbage everywhere, hospitals are facing shortage of medicines, and the Delhi Assembly has called me to answer questions on a ‘phansi ghar’.”
He added, “I have written to the Privileges Committee informing them that as per their summons, I will be present on March 6.”
“My appearance is without prejudice to my legal and constitutional rights, remedies, objections and contentions, all of which are expressly reserved. In the interest of transparency and public accountability, I request that the proceedings of the Committee in the present matter be live-streamed,” Kejriwal said in his letter.
Apart from Kejriwal, the committee had also summoned three other AAP leaders — former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, former Assembly Speaker Ramniwas Goel, and Deputy Speaker Rakhi Birla — to appear before the panel in the matter.
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Last month, the committee scheduled the final in-person appearances of the four leaders for March 6, along with the submission of their statements.
Earlier, on January 6, the Privileges Committee had recommended that the House take appropriate action against Kejriwal, Birla, Sisodia, and Goel for failing to appear before it on the matter.
Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh had, during the recent winter session of the Delhi Legislative Assembly, stated that approximately Rs 1.4 crore was spent on the “non-existent Phansi Ghar” during 2022–23, as the Assembly issued fresh summons to Kejriwal and others in the matter.
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