The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has escalated its political battle against defections by moving a petition in the Rajya Sabha seeking the disqualification of seven of its former MPs, including Raghav Chadha, who recently joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). AAP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh announced the move during a press conference at the party headquarters in New Delhi on Sunday.
Constitutional Experts Back Disqualification
Singh stated that leading constitutional experts and senior advocates, including Kapil Sibal and former Lok Sabha Secretary General P D T Achary, have affirmed that the membership of all seven MPs who merged with the BJP after leaving the AAP is liable to be terminated. He further claimed that even a Supreme Court lawyer associated with an NDA constituent acknowledged during a media interaction that the membership of these leaders would inevitably be revoked.
Allegations of BJP's Defection Tactics
The AAP MP accused the BJP of perfecting the politics of defections by using central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to intimidate opposition leaders before inducting them into its ranks. He termed the defections as a betrayal of democracy, the people of Punjab, the Constitution, and an open mockery of democratic principles.
Petition Under 10th Schedule
Singh confirmed that after consulting experts and taking the opinion of Kapil Sibal, he submitted a petition to the Rajya Sabha chairman requesting termination of the membership of all seven MPs under the provisions of the 10th Schedule of the Constitution. He urged the Vice President to hear the matter at the earliest and deliver a just decision.
Legal Precedents and Commitment
Addressing concerns about prolonged legal proceedings, Singh cited Supreme Court judgments in similar cases, including those from Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh, where the apex court delivered verdicts on political defections. He expressed readiness to fight the legal battle, emphasizing that constitutional provisions must be followed by everyone.
Right to Recall and Meeting with President
On a separate issue, Singh mentioned that Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has sought time to meet the President of India to present views on the 'Right to Recall' mechanism. He noted that the MLAs who elected these MPs have been betrayed, and now those MLAs are calling for their resignation if they are unable to perform.
The AAP leader reiterated that if a person is elected from one party and has differences, they should resign and then join a party whose ideology aligns with theirs. He expressed hope that the Rajya Sabha chairman would take an early decision on the petition and cancel the membership of the defected MPs.
