AAP boycotts Budget session over MLA suspensions
The Opposition AAP MLAs boycotted the first day of the Delhi Assembly’s Budget session on Monday, staging a protest with a Loktantra ki Arthi Yatra (funeral procession of democracy), alleging “murder” of democracy by the ruling BJP. They demanded the revocation of the suspension of its four MLAs. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs tried to enter the Assembly premises, but the police stopped them at a barricade. Later, they took out a march outside the Assembly carrying the arthi.
The Leader of Opposition Atishi pointed out that whenever the BJP-led Government does not have answers, it tries to crush the voice of the opposition in the arrogance of power, calling it not just a demonstration but an expression of public anger against dictatorship, and asserting that those who undermine democracy will be held accountable by history and the people.
“We have been elected by the people of Delhi, and we raise their troubles and issues, but the BJP wants us not to raise our voice,” Atishi said, adding that the police prevented them from entering the Assembly premises.
Four AAP MLAs —Sanjeev Jha, Jarnail Singh, Som Dutt and Kuldeep Kumar — were suspended in January this year by Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta for disrupting Lt Governor’s address to the House. Their suspension has continued as the sitting was not prorogued.
Meanwhile, Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta condemned the boycott of House proceedings by the Opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) members on the first day of the budget session. “I strongly condemn the protest being carried out outside the House by the members of the Opposition and the Leader of the Opposition, Atishi,” the Assembly Speaker said in a statement.
“Boycotting the House and failing to participate in its proceedings is completely against the dignity of the House and Parliamentary decorum,” Speaker Gupta said, after the AAP members stayed away from the proceedings, allegedly to demand the revocation of the suspension of their party’s four MLAs during the last sitting of the House.
The Assembly Speaker said, “In a democratic system, the House is the very place where discussion and dialogue should occur; however, the Opposition’s decision to distance itself from the Budget Session is deeply unfortunate.”
He added that at a time when the Delhi Budget is being presented, the participation and presence of the Opposition are of utmost importance.
“Protesting outside instead of engaging in discussion is contrary to established parliamentary traditions,” he said. Delhi Cabinet Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh also criticised the Opposition for boycotting the first day of the Assembly’s budget session. The Minister called the move “unfortunate” and an attempt to avoid accountability.
Addressing the media inside the assembly premises, Singh said the Opposition walked out after learning that key reports, including those of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), were to be presented in the House.
SIM cards were procured through forged documents, phishing, and pre-activated connections. Money transactions were routed through small shops and Jan Seva Kendras to avoid detection.
On March 20, nine more people, including five minors, were detained. The network’s footprint spans Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra and Nepal. On March 22, another key accused, Naushad Ali alias Lalu, was arrested in Faridabad. A woman identified as Meera, an e-rickshaw driver from Mathura, and a minor were also detained. Meera had earlier been arrested in a weapons supply case and is suspected of having assisted in recruitment and logistics.
Officials said Sarfaraz alias Sardar was among the handlers coordinating activities from across the border. Another accused, Sameer alias Shooter, remains absconding.
Multiple agencies, including the NIA, ATS, and police teams from Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and Haryana, are now working together to trace the remaining operatives and reconstruct the full extent of the network.
