The Delhi Assembly witnessed high drama on Friday evening when Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tried to table the Aam Aadmi Party government’s flagship Jan Lokpal Bill.
Defying Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung's reservations over the bill, the Delhi CM tabled the bill, and pandemonium took over the assembly.
Kejriwal had earlier threatened to step down if the Lokpal Bill was not passed.
Apart from the AAP, the entire Delhi Assembly voted against the tabling of the bill.
While 42 Members of Legislative Assembly voted against the tabling of the Bill, 27 AAP MLAs voted for the bill, of a total of 70 MLAs in the assembly.
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Jan Lokpal Bill fizzles out in Delhi Assembly
The LG had earlier written to Delhi Speaker M S Dhir, saying, "The bill may not be introduced in the House as it has not been presented before me."
While both the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party opposed any discussion on the L-G's letter, the AAP sought one on the issue.
"We must debate and discuss if the L-G's letter should be considered," said AAP minister Manish Sisodia.
The Congress claimed that the bill had been introduced without permission from the House.
Congress leader Arvinder Singh Lovely also backed the notice for the suspension of the House, but the Speaker disallowed it.
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Jan Lokpal Bill fizzles out in Delhi Assembly
Photographs: Courtesy: ANI
"The only reason Arvind Kejriwal is the CM, despite his party getting 28 seats, and the BJP is in the opposition, is because of the LG's directions. If we can follow that, why can't we follow his directions on the bill? By disregarding the law and insulting the LG, we cannot discuss the Jan Lokpal Bill," said BJP leader Harsh Vardhan.
He claimed that every party will back the bill if it is brought in constitutionally.
Harsh Vardhan also said he wanted the Delhi CM to sack AAP minister Somnath Bharti.
"The House must take up a censure motion against Bharti," he said.
Bharti had said earlier that the Congress was free to bring in a no-confidence motion.
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Jan Lokpal Bill fizzles out in Delhi Assembly
Photographs: Courtesy: ANI
The Congress, which provides outside support to the AAP government, stated that the Delhi CM should “stop behaving like a child”.
"We support the AAP government and the Delhi CM should stop misguiding people. We support the Jan Lokpal Bill and the AAP government, but we do not back any unconstitutional methods," said Lovely.
He said the party had already written to Kejriwal, pledging their support for the bill.
“But we should have got a copy of the bill a week ago. Kejriwal should stop acting like a child. In fact, he has been misguiding the people. The AAP govt will find a place in the Guinness Book of records for lying," he said.
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