The Delhi Legislative Assembly witnessed a complete washout of its proceedings on Wednesday, following intense protests by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators. The uproar was triggered by alleged remarks made by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Leader of Opposition, Atishi, which the BJP claimed were disrespectful towards the ninth Sikh Guru, Tegh Bahadur.
Protests Lead to Repeated Adjournments
The day descended into chaos as BJP members, including ministers, repeatedly stormed into the well of the House. They demanded stringent action against Atishi and a formal apology from the AAP. Speaker Vijender Gupta was forced to adjourn the House multiple times before finally calling it off for the day, scheduling the next sitting for 11 am on Thursday.
In a significant escalation, BJP ministers later submitted a joint letter to Speaker Gupta. In the letter, they sought Atishi's disqualification from the Assembly and urged for the registration of a criminal case against her for her purported comments.
Roots of the Controversy and Conflicting Allegations
The controversy originated from a heated exchange in the Assembly on Tuesday. While BJP MLAs were speaking on the occasion of the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur, AAP legislators sought to shift the discussion to Delhi's severe pollution crisis. During this clash, Atishi allegedly made comments that BJP MLA Arvinder Singh Lovely later described as so insulting he was "too scared to even repeat" them.
Speaker Gupta stated he possessed a transcript of Atishi's remarks, which he termed "condemnable and completely unacceptable." He urged the absent AAP leader to attend the House to clarify her position. BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa took a hardline stance, asserting, "Atishi should be sentenced to imprisonment because those who insult Guru Tegh Bahadur do not belong in the house, but in Tihar Jail."
The situation intensified when the House reconvened after a second adjournment. Speaker Gupta informed members that AAP's Mukesh Ahlawat had communicated that Atishi was currently in Goa, where she serves as the party's in-charge.
AAP's Counter-Charge and a Parallel Protest
The AAP mounted a fierce defence, accusing the BJP of orchestrating a smear campaign. The party alleged that the BJP had "manipulated" Atishi's words by adding false subtitles to an old video clip from a debate on the Lieutenant Governor's address. Delhi AAP convener Saurabh Bharadwaj claimed the entire controversy was a ploy to divert attention from what he called "derogatory" remarks made by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta about the freedom fighter Bhagat Singh.
AAP demanded an apology from the BJP for the CM's comments, which they said insulted martyrs. AAP chief whip Sanjeev Jha reiterated, "CM claimed in the assembly that Bhagat Singh threw a bomb on Congress govt… BJP must apologise."
In a related development, four suspended AAP MLAs, who were barred for the session for interrupting the LG's address on Monday, staged a protest outside the Assembly after police prevented them from entering the premises.
As the political storm rages, the focus has shifted from governance to a bitter war of words. With the BJP insisting on punitive action against Atishi and the AAP demanding accountability for the CM's statements, the stage is set for another volatile session when the Assembly reconvenes on Thursday.
