Speaker Rejects AAP MLAs’ Request to Discuss Law and Order Issues
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Synopsis
Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta dismissed the AAP Leader of the Opposition Atishi's request for a discussion on the city's law and order, emphasizing that the issue lies outside government jurisdiction. He criticized the Opposition for misusing procedures and engaging with the media instead of addressing concerns directly.
Key Takeaways
- Speaker Vijender Gupta rejected the AAP's plea for a law and order discussion.
- He accused the Opposition of attempting to misuse House procedures.
- Atishi argued that serious crime issues should be addressed in the Assembly.
- The Speaker emphasized the need for discussions to focus on matters within government jurisdiction.
- He expressed a commitment to healthy debate but criticized political maneuvering.
New Delhi, March 27 (NationPress) The Speaker of the Delhi Assembly, Vijender Gupta, on Thursday denied the request from Leader of the Opposition Atishi for a discussion regarding the reportedly worsening law and order situation in the capital, asserting that the matter lies outside the government’s jurisdiction.
“The notices submitted by the Opposition, which I did not accept, were merely a tactic to misuse the procedures of the House and instigate organized disruptions. I will not permit this,” stated the Speaker.
Speaker Gupta also criticized LoP Atishi for sharing her letter, which was directed to him requesting a debate under the Special Mention rule, with the media.
“I became aware of the Leader of the Opposition’s letter from the media prior to receiving it officially. This is not the first instance of such an occurrence. It seems to be a habit of the Opposition members to approach the media first instead of addressing their concerns with me directly,” he expressed.
Following the denial for a discussion on Delhi’s law and order in the Assembly, Atishi remarked, “How can lawmakers be barred from addressing such a serious issue when extortions, kidnappings, and shootings are occurring freely?”
“It appears that Speaker Vijender Gupta aims to conceal the failures of the BJP’s Double Engine government,” she added.
In her correspondence, she wrote, “It seems you want to prevent this discussion due to the BJP’s Central government’s inability to curb the rising crime rate in Delhi.”
“Before the elections, the BJP claimed that the Double Engine government would resolve Delhi's issues, yet post-election, they are now stating that they will not permit anyone to speak about the problems. If discussions cease, the problems vanish,” wrote the LoP.
“Speaker Sir, I urge that every issue concerning Delhi should be brought before the Delhi Legislative Assembly for discussion. Preventing this would be a disservice to democracy,” she wrote.
After denying the requests from five AAP legislators for a discussion on Delhi’s law and order, the Speaker issued a statement, saying, “I have received a letter from the Leader of the Opposition, Atishi, regarding my decision not to allow certain notices of Special Mention submitted by some members.”
“In this context, I wish to inform the honorable members that they should raise queries or engage in discussions solely on matters for which the minister concerned can provide answers or take appropriate action,” he stated.
While citing exceptional situations that may require some flexibility regarding this stipulation, the Speaker mentioned: “However, considering the nature of the issues presented in the House, the Speaker may permit notices on reserved subjects only if they are deemed extremely urgent and important matters impacting the citizens of Delhi and necessitating immediate attention from the House.”
“Issues raised under Special Mention must pertain to matters of urgent public concern. However, I have noticed that instead of concentrating on genuine issues affecting the public, Opposition members are primarily focused on creating disturbances,” he stated.
He added that the Delhi Assembly adheres to the Special Mention rules as outlined in the Rajya Sabha. According to Rule 180B (II) of the Rajya Sabha rules, it is explicitly stated that a Special Mention should not refer to a matter that does not primarily fall under the jurisdiction of the government.
The Speaker concluded his statement by asserting that he will always welcome constructive and democratic debates within the House. “However, I will not allow any discussions that are solely intended to gain political leverage and waste the House's time for self-promotion in the media,” said Gupta.
