New Delhi: Opposition BJP MLAs were on Wednesday
marshalled out of the Delhi Assembly after they disrupted the
proceedings and trooped into the Well of the House repeatedly
demanding sacking of PWD Minister Raj Kumar Chauhan following
Lokayukta`s recommendation to remove him.
From the word go, it was trouble in the House with BJP
MLAs shouting slogans against Delhi Government and Chief
Minister Sheila Dikshit, demanding removal of Chauhan and
seeking admission of a censure motion against the PWD Minister
who was found "guilty" by the Lokayukta for trying to protect
a leading resort in a tax evasion case.
The unrelenting BJP MLAs forced two adjournments in the
House and when they continued the ruckus after the House
resumed proceedings following the second adjournment, speaker
Yoganand Shastri ordered their eviction for the day.
A proposal to evict the MLAs from the House was proposed
by transport minister Arvinder Singh Lovely which was
supported by Congress legislators following which BJP
lawmakers were marshalled out.
Delhi Lokayukta Justice Manmohan Sarin had last month
recommended to the President of India to "withdraw her
pleasure" for the Minister to continue in office as he
"misused" his official position while trying to protect a
leading resort in a tax evasion case. The Lokayukta had held
him guilty of "misconduct" of "grave nature".
"The eviction of BJP legislators reflects the
autocratic style of functioning by the ruling party. This is
totally unacceptable. Why they are not ready to discuss a
serious issue," Malhotra told reporters later.
Earlier, when the House began its proceedings Malhotra
demanded Chauhan`s dismissal and asked Speaker Shastri to
admit the notice for censure motion against the Minister.
As speaker did not heed to his request, all the BJP
MLAs rose from their seats and started sloganeering against
and later all of them trooped to the Well of the House.
Failing to pacify the agitating BJP MLAs, the speaker
adjourned the House for 20 minutes.
When the House assembled, the speaker rejected the
notice for censure motion saying there was no provision for
such motion in the rules and procedures of Delhi Assembly. He
said as the matter was pending with the President, there was
no need for a discussion on the issue.
Protesting the Speaker`s ruling, all the BJP MLAs again
trooped into the well insisting on their demand for admission
of censure motion against Chauhan.
As the pleas for normalcy fell on deaf ears, the House
was again adjourned for 20 minutes.
When the House met after second adjournment, the
opposition MLAs continued their protest following which
Lovely moved a resolution seeking removal of BJP MLAs from the
House. The House then continued its normal functioning.
Asked about removal of the BJP legislators, Chief
Minister Sheila Dikshit said it was a decision by the Speaker
and she has nothing to say.
Malhotra, later said, "Although there was no mention of
censure motion in rules and procedures of Delhi Assembly, it
could have been taken up as Lok Sabha had in 1977 admitted a
similar motion without having it in the rules."
"The Lokayukta order against Chauhan is a very serious
issue. The matter has been raised even in Lok Sabha. The Chief
Minister must sack him immediately," Malhotra said.
BJP MP Shahnawaz Hussain today raised the issue in the
Lok Sabha and demanded sacking of the minister.
PTI
