New Delhi, March 30: The Speaker of the Delhi Assembly, Vijender Gupta, criticized the behavior of opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislators during a recent budget session. He stated that the AAP members boycotted the assembly without any substantial issues, attempting to mislead the public.
In a press conference following the session, Gupta expressed concern over the opposition’s entirely negative stance. He remarked, “It is unfortunate that the opposition distanced itself from the proceedings of the house under the guise of protest, without any concrete issues. It is rare in our parliamentary tradition for members to stay away from the house without a clear agenda.”
Gupta further stated, “Disrupting the proceedings, disregarding the dignity of the house, and subsequently spreading misinformation is a sign of indiscipline that cannot be tolerated.”
He noted that the session, which ran from March 23 to March 27, was productive, totaling 15 hours and 16 minutes of work. Gupta emphasized that the opposition’s behavior raises serious questions about parliamentary conduct. The house operates according to established rules, and repeatedly avoiding participation in discussions despite being given opportunities is akin to shirking responsibility.
He clarified that the opposition was informed that if they had any grievances, they could present them in the house, and time would be allocated for discussion. However, they chose not to attend.
The Speaker also explained that the matter of suspension was discussed with the opposition leader during the meeting on March 21. He mentioned that the suspension remains in effect until the end of the session and automatically concludes once the notification is issued with the approval of the Lieutenant Governor.
According to Rule 77, suspended members are prohibited from entering the assembly premises or participating in meetings or committees. However, the Speaker can grant special permission for specific purposes.
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