New Delhi, March 24 (NationPress) The Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly, Atishi, formally addressed Speaker Vijender Gupta on Tuesday, accusing him of attempting to silence the opposition by frequently suspending and expelling its members. She emphasized that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs will only re-engage in assembly discussions upon the immediate revocation of the suspension of four party legislators.

In her correspondence, Atishi criticized the Speaker's recent comments that questioned the opposition's absence and labeled it a violation of democratic duty as “misguided and profoundly ironic.”

She asserted that throughout the past year, the Delhi Legislative Assembly has failed to uphold its role as a democratic institution, claiming that the opposition's voice has been “systematically suppressed”, with elected officials facing suspension or removal from the chamber for even minor infractions.

“The most blatant illustration of this autocratic behavior was observed during the Winter Session,” she stated, referencing the suspension of four AAP MLAs—Sanjiv Jha, Kuldeep Kumar, Jarnail Singh, and Som Dutt—for the entirety of that session.

According to the Leader of Opposition, these four legislators faced not only exclusion from assembly activities but were also barred from entering the premises and subsequently denied participation in committee gatherings even after the conclusion of the session. “This is not about maintaining order; it is a punitive measure aimed at silencing dissent,” she argued.

Atishi further pointed out “evident double standards,” alleging that BJP MLAs disrupted assembly proceedings for two consecutive days without facing any repercussions. “No suspensions. No accountability. This kind of biased treatment has never occurred in the history of the Delhi Legislative Assembly,” she noted.

She reiterated the opposition’s eagerness to participate in the current Budget Session, highlighting that its outcomes will significantly influence the future of the national capital. She also mentioned a meeting on March 21 between a delegation of AAP MLAs and the Speaker, where they expressed their intention to engage productively.

Yet, she insisted that genuine involvement is impossible “in an environment filled with fear, exclusion, and selective penalties.”

“Thus, we demand the immediate revocation of the suspensions affecting the four MLAs,” Atishi stated, adding that their ongoing exclusion represents “an attack on democratic principles and on the people's mandate.”

She concluded by asserting that all opposition MLAs would fully engage in assembly proceedings once the suspensions are lifted, placing the obligation of restoring the “dignity, neutrality, and credibility” of the House on the Speaker.

Additionally, AAP conducted a protest on Monday outside the Delhi Assembly against the suspension of its four MLAs, urging their swift reinstatement.