Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta and BJP MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa were marshalled out of the Delhi Assembly on Thursday, as they demanded Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia to apologise for "misleading" the House over Jan Lokpal Bill. Following this, another BJP MLA staged a walkout in solidarity with his colleagues.
Also, Gupta presented a memorandum to Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel, elaborating the issue that the AAP government was "misleading" the Assembly. He said that the Delhi government was indeed levelling "false" allegations against the BJP-ruled Centre over the debate on granting "full statehood" to Delhi.
Gupta told the House that the bill was not lying with the Centre, but rather with the administrative department of the city government since last September.
Sisodia had, on Wednesday, said that the Lokpal could have been established within six months of the bill being passed, if only the bill was not "lying with the Centre".
Law Minister Kailash Ghalot also told the media that the bill was not pending with his department.
In order to mark their protest, Gupta and Sirsa went over to sit in the Well of the House, demanding Sisodia's apology on the same. Soon after when all three BJP MLAs sat in the Well, the speaker had to adjourn the session. While the House was adjourned for 15 minutes, the three BJP MLAs again retreated to the Well demanding Sisodia's apology.
"During the last nine months, the Delhi government could not move the file even an inch. Now, it is blaming the Centre for the delay. The deputy chief minister must apologise before the House for his 'misleading statement' blaming the Centre," said Gupta.
The Delhi Assembly had, in December 2015, passed the Jan Lokpal Bill which provides for an ombudsman with powers to act against any government functionary. Later, the Centre had sent back the bill seeking clarification from the AAP government.
In December 2015, the Delhi Assembly had passed the Jan Lokpal Bill that provides for an ombudsman to act against "corrupt" officials.
Passed In 2015
The Delhi Assembly had, in December 2015, passed the Jan Lokpal Bill which provides for an ombudsman with powers to act against any government functionary. Later, the Centre had sent back the bill seeking clarification from the AAP government.
