Speaker Issues Warning to AAP MLA for Social Media Photo in Delhi Assembly
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Synopsis
In a recent session of the Delhi Assembly, Speaker Vijender Gupta warned AAP legislator Jarnail Singh for taking a photo and posting it on social media, emphasizing that this action breached Assembly rules. The incident sparked a heated discussion regarding health management during the pandemic.
Key Takeaways
- Jarnail Singh faced consequences for violating Assembly rules.
- Speaker Gupta clarified the regulations regarding photography in the House.
- The discussion focused on health management during Covid-19.
- BJP criticized the AAP government for failing to utilize funds.
- Delhi's health performance was compared to BJP-governed states.
New Delhi, March 3 (NationPress) The Delhi Assembly experienced chaotic scenes on Monday when AAP legislator from Tilak Nagar, Jarnail Singh, utilized his mobile device to capture a photo and share it alongside a message on social media.
Speaker Vijender Gupta instructed Jarnail Singh to issue an apology for breaching rule 261 (25) of the Assembly and ordered the deletion of his tweet.
Singh expressed his remorse over the incident but insisted that his intention was to highlight the absence of ministers from the House—a claim that Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa refuted.
Sirsa corrected Singh, stating that there was never a moment when all Cabinet members were absent. “I was entering the House as Chief Minister Rekha Gupta was exiting,” he remarked.
A member of the ruling party suggested that Jarnail Singh's phone be confiscated and the issue referred to a committee; however, the Speaker opted to let Singh off with a warning after he expressed regret.
Speaker Gupta cautioned Jarnail Singh and reminded all members that taking photos in the House constitutes a breach of privilege.
He clarified that the live video streaming of House proceedings is permissible as it is conducted with his approval, but no member is allowed to take personal photographs or record videos.
Earlier, during discussions on the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India regarding the Performance Audit on ‘Public Health Infrastructure & Management of Health Services’, BJP legislator Mohan Singh Bisht criticized the previous government for failing to implement a policy for utilizing funds provided by the Central government to aid those affected by Covid-19.
“You failed to provide masks and PPE kits during the pandemic,” he stated, criticizing the AAP government for its inability to recruit staff.
He also highlighted the AAP government's failure to fully utilize the Rs 119 crore allocated for PPE kits.
Bisht noted that under the Emergency Covid Response Plan, the GNCTD received a total of Rs 787.91 crore (a lump sum of Rs 24.67 crore, Rs 292.22 crore in the first phase, and Rs 471.02 crore in the second phase) from the Government of India, of which only Rs 542.84 crore was utilized as of November 2021.
AAP legislator from Burari, Sanjeev Jha, acknowledged that while the CAG report identified some deficiencies in the health sector, it also indicated that Delhi performed better than many full-fledged states governed by the BJP.
“We were merely a half-state yet managed to establish a four-tier health system, whereas many fully-fledged states lack provisions for a tertiary or referral health mechanism,” he asserted.
