Why Was the Delhi Assembly Session Extended?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
New Delhi, Jan 8 (NationPress) The Speaker of the Delhi Assembly, Vijender Gupta, announced on Thursday the extension of the Winter Session by an additional day. This decision was accompanied by the referral of two complaints against Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislators to the Committee of Privileges for thorough examination and reporting.
The complaints involve remarks allegedly made by the Leader of Opposition, Atishi, concerning Sikh Gurus, as well as an alleged breach of privilege and contempt of the Assembly by AAP MLA Jarnail Singh, who was suspended on January 5.
A statement released by the Assembly Secretariat indicated, “The issue related to the remarks allegedly made by the Leader of Opposition regarding Sikh Gurus has been forwarded by Speaker Vijender Gupta to the Committee of Privileges for evaluation and report.”
Previously, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh informed the House that ongoing disruptions by the Opposition over the last two days had left several key government business items unresolved.
He highlighted the importance of passing the Motion of Thanks on the Lieutenant Governor's Address and discussions on pollution, advocating for an extension of the Assembly session by one more day.
Additionally, he urged that the matter regarding the alleged remarks be investigated by the Committee of Privileges in a timely manner.
Speaker Gupta, considering the gravity of the allegations concerning the remarks about Sikh Gurus and the dignity of the Assembly, resolved to refer the entire issue to the Committee of Privileges for detailed analysis and report.
He also updated the House that the video related to the remarks attributed to the Leader of the Opposition had been forwarded to a forensic lab for assessment.
Moreover, the Speaker acknowledged a complaint from BJP MLA Harish Khurana regarding AAP MLA Jarnail Singh, concerning an alleged breach of privilege and contempt of the House.
According to the statement, the Speaker has submitted the relevant matter to the Committee of Privileges for review and appropriate action as per established rules.
Khurana's complaint included a link to a social media post where Jarnail Singh supposedly threatened security personnel to permit his entry into the Assembly despite the suspension imposed on him.
Khurana alleged that Singh claimed that the individual in the Speaker's chair had previously faced suspension but was still allowed access to the premises.
As the son of former Delhi Chief Minister Madan Lal Khurana, he asserted that Singh's statements represented a serious contempt of the House.
In his address to the Speaker, Khurana remarked, “This is a serious issue affecting the dignity of the House and the Speaker's office, and I urge you to refer this matter to the Committee of Privileges for subsequent action.”