The AAP Government’s failure to introduce the Jan lokpal Bill in the Delhi Assembly was the ultimate blow to the Government that forced Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to announce his resignation on Friday evening. Kejriwal’s resignation was preceded by a high voltage drama during in the Assembly that lasted for over four hours.
The BJP and the Congress combined to attack the AAP Government for introducing the Bill and termed the move unconstitutional. As soon as the Assembly convened on Friday, the BJP and Congress leaders demanded the Speaker to read out the lieutenant- Governor’s message regarding the Jan lokpal Bill. Jung had advised the Assembly against tabling the Bill since it was not in accordance with procedures laid down under the law.
After an adjournment with Opposition leader BJP leader Harsh Vardhan and Congress leader Arvinder Singh lovely demanding voting on the lt Governor’s advice and the Government opposing it, Kejriwal dramatically rose to table the Jan lokpal Bill.
However, Opposition MlAs rushed into the Well of the House and prevented the Speaker from admitting the Bill. While the treasury benches wanted the matter to be debated, the Opposition leaders demanded voting for seeking leave of the House to introduce the Bill. “The Government has to seek permission from the House before introducing the Bill. The Speaker has no right to permit the same but only the members of the House can do that,” said Congress leader Arvinder Singh lovely.
This forced another adjournment for 30 minutes. However, uproar continued and Speaker MS Dhir was forced to conduct voting on the issue which the Government lost by 15 votes. While 27 MlAs of the AAP voted for introducing the Bill, 42 MlAs of the BJP, the Congress and other parties voted against it.
leader of Opposition Dr Harsh Vardhan too criticised the tabling of Jan lokpal Bill against the advice of the lieutenant Governor. “The advice of the lieutenant Governor to the House is not just a message but an order. No member of the House is against the Jan lokpal Bill but that has to be in accordance with the Constitutional norms. The Government has no right to introduce the Bill in its present form,” Vardhan said.
Earlier, the l-G’s letter was read out in the House by the Speaker which said the Jan lokpal Bill being a Financial Bill was to be sent to the l-G for recommendation. “As per the Transaction of Business Rules, the l-G is required to make a prior reference to the Central Government before a Bill is introduced in the Assembly… The said Jan lokpal Bill has not yet been duly placed before me by the Government of NCT of Delhi,” the letter said. “As the Jan lokpal Bill is being introduced in the legislative Assembly without following the procedure... I hereby send the message to the
legislative Assembly, not to consider the Bill unless it is introduced with the recommendations of the lt Governor,” lG Najeeb Jung said adding the message may be conveyed to the Assembly before the Bill is introduced during the current Session.