Chief Minister caps off 2nd day of lS session
After being at the receiving end of criticism, including the BJP, Delhi Chief Minister along with his other MlAs preferred to give their party’s trademark, Gandhi cap, a miss for the Assembly proceedings on Thursday. The second day of the session opened with several leaders of the Opposition vehemently protesting to the Speaker asking AAP leaders to take off their traditional headgear.
While most of the leaders entered the House without donning the party’s cap, yet there were a few MlAs who were seen wearing it. Right in the beginning, the House was rocked by the BJP MlAs, Suhas Sachdev and Mohan Singh Bisht, who requested the Pro-tem Speaker Mateem Ahmed to direct them on removing the caps. Following the Delhi Assembly Rule 261, Ahmed instantly asked them to take off their caps before going ahead with the proceedings. However, Kejriwal, Urban Development and PWD Minister Manish Sisodia and other five members of the Cabinet had opted out of wearing the topi from Thursday.
Although the Speaker specifically mentioned that the people sitting in the gallery were not a part of the House and hence, could wear anything, most of them were seen taking their topis off. “If our leaders are not wearing it, we also won’t. We will maintain the decorum of the House,” said Rajesh Jain, an AAP supporter. On Wednesday, former Delhi BJP MlA Vijay Jolly had protested against violation of Delhi Assembly Rule 261 by CM. Other BJP leaders also objected to the use of Gandhi caps, carrying slogans by the AAP legislators in the House alleging that it has violated the rules. Senior legislator Jagdish Mukhi accused Kejriwal and his legislators of violating rules of the legislative Assembly in its first sitting by wearing caps. “I thank Delhi Assembly MlAs for forcing the Govt and Arvinder Singh for removal of the caps,” said Jolly.