The Winter Session of the Delhi Assembly started amid chaos on Wednesday as the Opposition’s demand to pay tribute to Vishva Hindu Parishad leader Ashok Singhal, who died on Tuesday, was turned down.
The Speaker rejected the demand after the Aam Aadmi Party MlAs unanimously objected to it, resulting in a shouting match.
As soon as homage was paid to the victims of Paris terror attacks at the beginning of the Session, leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta made a vociferous demand for paying tribute to Singhal.
However, the ruling party MlAs strongly protested claiming that Singhal had “played a divisive role” in his life and had participated in the movement for demolition of Babri Masjid in Ayodhya.
Rejecting Gupta’s demand, the Speaker said since Singhal did not hold any constitutional post, paying homage to him was not possible. He also removed Ashok Singhal’s name from official records due to stiff opposition by AAP MlAs.
Earlier, Goel assured the Opposition that the Jan lokpal Bill will be tabled in the current Session. “The Session has just started… It won’t end today and there is a lot of time. As the Speaker, I assure you that Jan lokpal Bill will be tabled in this Session,” said Goel as the three BJP leaders also created uproar demanding the Government’s response to tabling of Janlokpal Bill.
Even as the Speaker tried to inform the Opposition about the tabling of the Bill, the three BJP MlAs - Vijender Gupta, OP Sharma and Jagdish Pradhan - demanded Deputy CM Manish Sisodia to respond on behalf of the Government.
The AAP Government has decided to introduce six bills, including Code of Criminal Procedure Amendment Bill, Delhi School Education Amendment Bill and Minimum Wages Amendment Bill in the Assembly session which is to continue till November 28.