New Delhi, March 24: The leader of the opposition in the Delhi Assembly, Atishi, has accused Speaker Vijender Gupta of attempting to silence dissent through repeated suspensions and expulsions. In a letter sent on Tuesday, she stated that members of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) would only participate in the assembly proceedings if the suspensions of four legislators were revoked.
In her letter, Atishi criticized Gupta’s recent statements questioning the opposition’s absence and labeling it a violation of democratic responsibility as “incorrect and extremely absurd.”
She alleged that the Delhi Assembly has not functioned as a democratic institution over the past year, claiming that the voices of the opposition have been systematically suppressed. Elected representatives have faced suspension or expulsion for “trivial matters,” with the most blatant example occurring during the winter session. She specifically referenced the suspensions of AAP legislators Sanjeev Jha, Kuldeep Kumar, Jarnail Singh, and Som Datt.
Atishi noted that these four legislators were not only barred from participating in assembly proceedings but were also denied entry into the premises and excluded from committee meetings even after the session concluded. “This is not discipline; it is punishment aimed at crushing dissent,” she asserted.
She further accused the ruling BJP of double standards, pointing out that BJP legislators disrupted proceedings for two days without facing any consequences. “No suspensions, no accountability. Such biased behavior has never been witnessed in the history of the Delhi Assembly,” she remarked.
Atishi emphasized that the opposition is eager to participate in the ongoing budget session, as their decisions will shape the future of the national capital. She also referenced a meeting on March 21 between a delegation of AAP legislators and the Speaker, where they expressed a desire for constructive dialogue.
However, she concluded that meaningful participation is impossible in an atmosphere of fear, boycott, and selective punishment.
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