The first half of the fourth day of the Delhi Assembly session saw multiple adjournments — first till 12.15 PM, the second till 12.30 PM and the third till 12.45 PM as BJP and AAP MLAs protested against the rival party.
While the BJP MLAs protested against the alleged “anti-farmer” policies of the AAP Government, the ruling party MLAs protested against Lieutenant-Governor VK Saxena and top Delhi Government officers, including the Chief Secretary, for allegedly causing hindrance in the works of the Kejriwal Government.
The House proceedings could commence only at 11.30 AM in view of the protest by the AAP. In the House, the AAP MLAs protested against the L-G over interference in the Government’s work and trooped into the Well of the House, prompting the Speaker to adjourn the Assembly till 12.15 PM.
After the House reconvened, BJP MLAs entered the Well, carrying posters and raising slogans against Kejriwal over his alleged anti-farmer policies. As they did not heed the Speaker’s request to take their seats, he adjourned the house till 12:30 PM and again till 12:45 PM. Later the BJP MLAs were marshalled out of the Delhi Assembly as they continued to protest.
While the Opposition MLAs carried miniature ploughs as a mark of protest on the Assembly premises, AAP MLAs, including Atishi and Saurabh Bhardwaj, staged a protest in front of Mahatma Gandhi’s statue.
The AAP MLAs were outraged by the findings of the Delhi Legislative Assembly’s Committee on Petition’s report which said the L-G was involved in sabotaging Mohalla Clinics, stopping old-age pensions. The committee has now requested the President of India and Union Home Ministry to take cognisance and take appropriate action against the L-G and Chief Secretary. The role of the Chief Secretary in derailing projects is under the scanner, he has been directed to submit an action taken report on the Committee’s Recommendations in 30 days.
On his part, Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Ramvir Singh Bidhuri said, “There is less compensation on land acquisition and no subsidy is given on agricultural appliances. No hospital, colleges or sewer lines have been laid in villages of Delhi during eight years of the AAP Government.” He said if the Government will run away from a discussion on farmers’ issue in the House, BJP MLAs will stage a dharna outside the Chief Minister’s chamber in the Assembly.
He said that the Kejriwal Government is acquiring the agricultural land of farmers in Delhi at throwaway prices. On 26 December 2022, the land of the farmers of Nangli Razapur village was acquired at a price of only Rs 22 lakh per acre. This is open loot with the farmers.
The AAP MLAs were demanding suspension of the Chief Secretary and the secretaries of the health and finance departments for allegedly sabotaging the works of Delhi Government at the behest of L-G. The MLAs raised slogans against Saxena, accusing him of undermining the elected Government and causing harm to the public.
Senior AAP leader and MLA Atishi said, “Today we have gathered to protest outside the Vidhan Sabha as through IAS officers in Delhi, the L-G is obstructing all the developmental works of the State Government.
“He is doing this through the medium of the Principal Secretary (Finance), Principal Secretary (Health) and the Chief Secretary of Delhi.”
She claimed that the salaries of doctors and medical staff of Mohalla Clinics have not been dispensed and even the drivers and marshals of the Delhi Transport Corporation have not been given their salaries.