New Delhi: A major political clash erupted in the Delhi Assembly on Tuesday as 12 Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs, including former Chief Minister and now Leader of the Opposition Atishi, were suspended for the day. The suspension came amid a heated confrontation with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over a Comptroller and Auditor-General (CAG) report on the alleged liquor policy scam.
Among those suspended was senior AAP leader Gopal Rai, one of the party’s few prominent figures who managed to hold onto his seat in the recent Delhi elections. The session was soon adjourned by Speaker Vijender Gupta until noon.
The CAG report, set to be tabled in the Assembly, is one of several allegations against the AAP, which suffered a crushing defeat in the February 5 elections. The BJP’s landslide victory—securing 48 out of 70 seats—has intensified scrutiny on the Kejriwal-led administration, with multiple probes, including the ‘sheeshmahal’ controversy over alleged extravagant renovations at the former Chief Minister’s bungalow.
Protests Over Ambedkar and Bhagat Singh Portraits
Tensions escalated further when Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena addressed the Assembly. AAP MLAs staged a protest, raising ‘Jai Bhim’ slogans and holding up images of Dr. BR Ambedkar and Bhagat Singh. They accused the new BJP government of removing their portraits from the Chief Minister’s office and replacing them with those of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The BJP dismissed these claims, calling them baseless. The party released footage showing that the portraits of Ambedkar and Bhagat Singh had been moved to the side walls while images of Mahatma Gandhi, President Droupadi Murmu, and Modi were placed behind the Chief Minister’s desk.
Unconvinced, Atishi vowed to continue her protest until the original placement of the portraits was restored.
AAP Stages Sit-In Protest
Following their suspension, the expelled AAP MLAs staged a sit-in outside the Assembly, holding placards and shouting slogans against the BJP government. MLA Sanjeev Jha lashed out, alleging, “In the Chief Minister’s office, Dr. BR Ambedkar’s portrait was replaced with that of PM Modi… When we questioned this, we were suspended. The BJP despises Ambedkar, but the country will not tolerate this.”
CAG Report Raises Questions on Liquor Policy
Meanwhile, the much-anticipated CAG report on the controversial liquor policy is expected to spark further uproar when it is officially presented. The report criticizes the policy’s execution under the AAP government, stating that its “actual implementation was sub-optimal and objectives were not achieved.” It highlights inadequate scrutiny of business entities awarded liquor licenses and calls for accountability to be fixed for the observed lapses.
With the BJP pushing for action and AAP intensifying its protests, the Delhi Assembly is set for more stormy sessions ahead.
