For the first time, the BJP and the Congress joined hands in Delhi Assembly to attack the AAP Government and demand dismissal of controversial law Minister Somnath Bharti. The first day of the Delhi Assembly session was stormy with the two parties taking turns to protest in the Assembly seeking ouster of Bharti for his alleged misbehaviour with African women during a midnight raid in South Delhi.
The BJP legislators Kulwant Rana and RP Singh heckled Bharti and tore papers kept on his table. Congress legislators also joined the chorus and demanded Bharti’s resignation. Meanwhile, Congress legislator Asif Muhammad Khan created a ruckus demanding an SIT probe into the Batla House shooting. Khan, a Congress legislator from South Delhi’s Okhla area, climbed atop the Speaker’s podium and tore papers kept there. He then approached Kejriwal and broke the microphone on his desk before tearing the papers kept on his table. He was joined by party MlA Jai Kishen who also created a scene in the House while protesting against the Government.
Speaker MS Dhir had to adjourn the proceedings four times since the BJP did not let the house function each time it resumed. Party legislators trooped into the well of the house and shouted anti-government slogans. During the proceedings, leader of Opposition Dr Harsh Vardhan moved the calling attention and demanded debate on charges against Bharti’s. “We want a debate over the issue. Until the issue is not debated in the House, we will not allow the Assembly to function,” Vardhan said and alleged that the Delhi Government was not willing to listen to the views of the opposition at all and this resulted in disturbance in the working of the Assembly.
Meanwhile, scores of Congress MlAs and former legislators sat on dharna outside the Assembly premises demanding that Arvind Kejriwal Government fulfill all promises made to people during the Assembly Elections. Congress leader AK Walia said that their party had given outside support to Government on 18-action point related to public. “Kejriwal is running away from his responsibility by offering resignation if Jan lokpal Bill is not passed,” Walia said.