The second day of Delhi Assembly began on stormy note with an MLA of the ruling party Somnath Bharti alleged that the BJP and the RSS were opposing the installation of a high-mast tricolour in his constituency while the BJP leaders called AAP MLAs part of the "tukde tukde gang".
Following the heated exchange of words, Speaker Ram Niwas Goel directed that BJP MLAs Vijender Gupta and Jitendra Mahajan be marshalled out of the House.
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia lashed out at the BJP, saying that it is opposing the installation of Tiranga in Delhi and dared them to stop the AAP Government from doing it. "Every single AAP worker and leader will lay their lives but will not allow the BJP to disrespect the national flag. Did Bhagat Singh-Sukhdev-Rajguru sacrifice their lives for us to see this day where BJP conveniently goes around disregarding the Tiranga," he asked? "The Delhi Government decided to celebrate the 75th year of Indian Independence by installing 500 massive Tirangas all over the state.
Our motive behind the project was to instill a feeling of Deshbhakti in each and every citizen the moment they step out of their house. If any BJP Councillor has the audacity to say that the tricolor cannot be installed at a site because a certain group hoists their own flag then there just cannot be a bigger traitor than one who has no regard for the national flag," he said.
AAP MLA Somnath Bharti said "We have all heard from many sources that the people belonging to the BJP hold no attachment to our beloved Tiranga in any form or manner. Their leaders made absolutely no contributions in our fight to attain freedom, in liberating the Tiranga whatsoever. However, an incident from my constituency has been brought to my notice recently, which has left me stunned and disconcerted."We had taken permission from the South MCD in order to install one of the Tirangas in the Maharaja Sursaini Park in my constituency.
As soon as we arrived at the site, some people arrived and objected to us installing the national flag. When I asked the reason behind their objection, they stated that they use the park to set up their Shakhas, and hence only their flag can be hoisted at the park," he added.
Responding to the allegation, Delhi BJP Spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor has said that it is regrettable that MLA Somnath Bharti and other AAP leaders are playing "dirty" politics in the name of hoisting tricolor. Bharti wanted to hoist the flag in one corner of the park while local residents requested him to hoist it in the centre of the park.