5 AAP MLAs marshalled out amid party’s protest over health sector scam

Five AAP MLAs were marshalled out of the Delhi Assembly on the first day of the Monsoon Session on Friday after opposition members raised slogans and displayed posters alleging a Rs 650-crore scam in the health sector.

The MLAs — Sanjeev Jha, Som Dutt, Vishesh Ravi, Kuldeep Kumar and Jarnail Singh — were removed from the House as opposition protests disrupted the proceedings. AAP members raised slogans demanding the resignation of Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.

They displayed posters alleging irregularities in the health sector. As the sloganeering continued, the Speaker adjourned the proceedings till 2 pm.

The session saw a heated exchange between the BJP and the AAP, with the two sides trading allegations over issues related to governance and accountability.

The issue of Question Hour also triggered a war of words between the ruling BJP and Opposition AAP as the Opposition MLAs accused the party of not allotting time during the first day of the Monsoon Session on Friday.

AAP MLAs, including party chief whip Sanjeev Jha and Jarnail Singh, raised the issue and accused the ruling BJP of evading accountability. BJP ministers Parvesh Sahib Singh and Kapil Mishra hit back at the AAP, questioning their “seriousness” regarding Question Hour.

Hitting back, Delhi Culture Minister Kapil Mishra alleged that the previous Government had not held even five Question Hours during its five-year tenure. PWD Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh criticised the Opposition, claiming that the previous AAP Government had only nine Question Hours during 74 sittings of the Assembly in five years, with not a single Question Hour held in its last year in power in 2024.

Mishra also criticised Delhi Leader of Opposition Atishi for being in Goa, saying her absence from the Assembly showed her seriousness towards the proceedings.

“Your Government did not conduct even five Question Hours during its five-year tenure. Your Leader of Opposition being in Goa shows how serious you are. Today is such an important day for the daughters of Delhi, yet the Leader of Opposition is absent from the House,” Mishra said. His remark invited strong protest by opposition members.

Verma also targeted the Opposition, saying that Atishi was in Goa and had no interest in the Monsoon Session.