New Delhi: Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Delhi Assembly Atishi alleged that elected lawmakers have been “stopped” from entering the Vidhan Sabha for the first time and termed it a “black day” in the history of Indian democracy.
“Today is a black day in the history of Indian democracy. Never have elected MLAs been stopped from entering the Vidhan Sabha by deploying a police force and three-layer barricading,” Atishi told reporters, referring to the suspension of the AAP MLAs.
She pointed out that the Aam Aadmi Party protested after the BJP allegedly replaced the portrait of Ambedkar with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“BJP is rattled because we are raising slogans in Babasaheb Ambedkar’s name. BJP is rattled because AAP raised its voice when Babasaheb Ambedkar’s portrait was replaced by PM Narendra Modi’s. AAP MLAs were suspended for the same… BJP cannot stop the slogans of ‘Jai Bheem’ that will be heard from every corner of the city,” the Kalkaji MLA said.
The AAP leader further said, “I have written a letter to the President and sought time to meet her tomorrow against the undemocratic, unconstitutional, and illegal step that BJP has taken today…”
Earlier in the day, after being denied entry into the Delhi Vidhan Sabha premises, Atishi, along with other AAP MLAs, staged a protest outside the Assembly on Thursday, holding ‘Jai Bhim’ placards. She criticised the move as “undemocratic and unconstitutional.”
Speaking to ANI, Atishi said, “Police officers are saying that we (AAP MLAs) are suspended from the assembly, so we will not even be allowed to enter the assembly premises. This is undemocratic and unconstitutional… To date, this has never happened in the history of the country… Even in Parliament, there are protests under the Gandhi statue even after being suspended… After all, how can we be stopped? We tried to talk to the Speaker, but nothing was happening.”
On Tuesday, tensions escalated in the Delhi Assembly as Speaker Vijender Gupta suspended 12 AAP MLAs, including Atishi and AAP MLA Gopal Rai, amid an uproar ahead of the tabling of the CAG report.
