New Delhi, March 6 (NationPress) Following his appearance before the Delhi Assembly’s Privileges Committee, former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday attempted to politicize the matter regarding the authenticity of the 'Faansi Ghar', claiming that the BJP has shown disrespect towards freedom fighters.

His former deputy, Manish Sisodia, did not attend the Committee meeting, despite being granted a final opportunity.

Kejriwal maintained the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)'s position that a ‘Faansi Ghar’ was present within the Assembly premises during the colonial period, accusing the ruling BJP of engaging in discussions that dishonor freedom fighters.

In response, Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva challenged AAP leaders to question their Congress allies about why they did not identify a 'Faansi Ghar' in the Old Secretariat while the Congress was in power from 1947 to 2013.

Sachdeva asserted that the AAP leaders' claims regarding the existence of a ‘gallows’ on Assembly grounds have been debunked to such an extent that they are now resorting to numerous fabrications to mask their errors.

Earlier, Kejriwal expressed to reporters post-Committee meeting that the BJP-led Delhi government is determined to discredit the notion of a ‘Faansi Ghar’ by labeling it a ‘tiffin room’.

“During colonial rule, a portion of the Delhi Assembly was designated for the execution of freedom fighters. This fact was highlighted in 2022 to inform the public,” he stated.

“However, the BJP government is focused on portraying it not as a ‘hanging room’ but rather as a ‘tiffin room’... What could be a greater insult to our freedom fighters? The roads in Delhi are in disrepair, power outages are frequent, and hospitals lack essential medicines… Yet, the BJP seems unconcerned about the pressing issues faced by Delhi’s residents,” Kejriwal added.

“Their sole interest lies in political maneuvering. They are fixated on redefining a site where freedom fighters were executed as a mere tiffin room,” he asserted.

During the Committee meeting, he was challenged to provide evidence supporting his claim that a section of the Assembly known as ‘Faansi Ghar’ was indeed a gallows.

“I informed the Committee members that the then Speaker of the Assembly possessed information that led him to conclude the existence of a ‘Faansi Ghar’ on the Assembly grounds,” he noted.

Kejriwal also pressed the Committee members to furnish evidence proving that the disputed area was a tiffin box and not a ‘Faansi Ghar’.

Previously, Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta warned Kejriwal’s party associate Atishi against making remarks that could undermine a matter currently under review by the Privileges Committee.

“You must recognize the distinction between a political party and the Assembly and its Committees. The Delhi Assembly and its Committees operate autonomously now. This may be a new concept for you, as history shows the previous misuse of the Assembly and its Committees,” he stated.

“As the Speaker, I am disheartened to witness you making such unfounded statements without evidence, and it is my responsibility to advise you against defaming the Assembly Committees for your narrow political objectives,” he added.

This issue, initially raised by Speaker Gupta, pertains to the legitimacy of the 'Faansi Ghar' inaugurated on August 9, 2022, within the Delhi Assembly.

The Committee of Privileges was tasked with investigating this matter to ensure a comprehensive and procedural evaluation of the events surrounding the inauguration.