The Delhi Assembly on Friday passed a resolution to refer to the Ethics Committee the disruption of Lieutenant-Governor VK Saxena's address by BJP MLAs as a violation of the tradition of the House. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal termed it a violation the decorum of the House while Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Ramvir Singh Bidhuri termed the decision to marshal out BJP MLAs "dictatorial".
Earlier in the day, as Saxena commenced his address in the House on the first day of the Budget session, BJP MLAs raised slogans demanding Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's resignation over alleged corruption in the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy. AAP MLAs opposed the BJP and raised slogans against it over the Adani issue.
While three BJP MLAs -- Jitendra Mahajan, OP Sharma and Anil Bajpai -- were marshalled out on Speaker Ram Niwas Goel's directions, the rest walked out. Later, the LG continued his speech. Delhi Cabinet Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj put forward a resolution terming the disruption by BJP legislators as contempt of the House, which was passed unanimously and sent to the Ethics Committee.
Bharadwaj, while presenting the resolution, cited Schedule 5 of the Vidhan Sabha, which outlines the House's responsibility in the event of its contempt by members during the Lieutenant Governor's address.
According to Schedule 5, any member who interrupts, raises slogans, questions, walks out of the House, or talks about the point of order during, before or after the LG's address in the House will be considered in contempt of the House. The House can settle this problem by passing a resolution in this regard.
Bharadwaj emphasised that this matter concerns the sanctity of the House, and despite differences with the LG, traditions must be upheld.
He urged all members to respect the decorum of the House and maintain the integrity of the institution.
Later, while talking to reporters, he said, "We have differences with the Lieutenant Governor.
But these differences exist because we want the LG to maintain the dignity and constitutional supremacy of democracy. The Delhi government tells the LG that he should act as per the constitution and follow the law."
"While passing the resolution, the house could have ruled on this case even today. This is the right of the House. But the House has sent this matter to the Ethics Committee so that the Ethics Committee after examining this matter gives its recommendation to the House," Bharadwaj said.
