BJP’s dictatorship continues—AAP MLAs barred from entering Assembly premises for second consecutive day

In a blatant display of authoritarianism, the BJP on Friday prevented AAP MLAs—suspended for chanting ‘Jai Bhim’ in the Delhi Assembly—from entering the House. Leader of Opposition (LoP) Atishi and her colleagues were met with a heavy police and CRPF deployment at the assembly gates, blocking their access.

When AAP legislators, under the leadership of LoP Atishi, attempted to march to Rashtrapati Bhavan to submit a memorandum to the President, Delhi Police barricaded roads with buses and hundreds of police and paramilitary forces, and refused to let them pass. Even after taking the memorandum, police did not allow them to leave unescorted, insisting on accompanying them home. Outraged by this brazen suppression, AAP MLAs staged a protest on the streets, chanting slogans of “Jai Bhim” against BJP’s “dictatorship and hooliganism.”

During this, LoP Atishi expressed to enter the Delhi Assembly to submit a memorandum to Speaker Vijender Gupta. However, Delhi Police prevented her from doing so and took the memorandum themselves, promising to deliver it to the Speaker. Following this, Atishi and AAP MLAs began to leave for their homes, but the police stopped them, insisting on accompanying them. Angered by this, AAP legislators staged a massive protest, raising slogans such as “BJP’s dictatorship and hooliganism will not be tolerated,” “No dictatorship in democracy,” and “Jai Bhim.”

During the protest, Atishi affirmed that the BJP is having a problem with Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s image and legacy. She pointed out that when AAP legislators chanted “Jai Bhim” in the Assembly, 21 of them were expelled. However, when BJP legislators chanted “Modi-Modi,” no action was taken.

The Delhi LoP said, “The BJP believes Narendra Modi is greater than Babasaheb Ambedkar and that India should not be governed by the Constitution drafted by him. The BJP and Modi are trying to impose a new authoritarian constitution, which is why they replace Ambedkar’s photos with Modi’s.”

She further stated that BJP leaders have no objection when their legislators chant “Modi-Modi” in the Assembly, but when AAP leaders chant “Jai Bhim,” they are thrown out. When AAP leaders attempted to meet the President to protect the Constitution, they were stopped—not near Rashtrapati Bhavan, but merely 10 meters from the Delhi Assembly.

“Delhi Police is not showing any written order for stopping us. The BJP wants people to believe that Modi is drafting a new Constitution. They want to erase Babasaheb Ambedkar’s Constitution,” she said.

Atishi asserted that the BJP believes India should not be run through democracy and the Constitution but through dictatorship. She declared that AAP will never accept this authoritarianism. “BJP has deployed hundreds of CRPF personnel to intimidate AAP legislators. This is why the entire AAP legislative group is going to meet the President—because ultimately, it is his duty to safeguard the Constitution and democracy.”

“There is no constitutional order left in this country anymore. AAP MLAs were detained 20 kilometers from Rashtrapati Bhavan. The BJP must remember that this nation runs on Babasaheb Ambedkar’s Constitution, not on BJP’s dictatorship,” said the Delhi LoP.

During a media interaction, LoP Atishi stated, “Today, we were going to submit a memorandum to the President to safeguard democracy in this country. We were even ready to hand it over to a representative of the President. However, it is deeply concerning that it seems like the country is now being ruled by the police.”

The Delhi LoP said, “When we requested a meeting with the President’s representative, the police told us that they themselves were the representatives. This makes it absolutely clear that the country is no longer being governed by the Constitution drafted by Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, but instead by the rule of the police. The BJP is running a dictatorship.”

“Despite this, we firmly believe in democracy, which is why we have handed over the memorandum to the DCP present here. She has assured us that it will reach Rashtrapati Bhavan within the next half an hour and that we will receive an official acknowledgement,” she added.

Atishi affirmed that they have not lost faith in Babasaheb Ambedkar’s Constitution, and they hope that the President, as its guardian, will receive our memorandum and take action against the ongoing dictatorship of the BJP.

Atishi noted, “We will receive a report only after we enter the House, but the situation has become so undemocratic that opposition MLAs are not being allowed inside the Assembly. Not just us, even members of the media were being denied entry.”

“The police and CRPF were not stopping elected representatives, yet they were preventing journalists—the fourth pillar of democracy—from entering. This clearly shows that the BJP is afraid. The BJP fears Babasaheb Ambedkar’s Constitution. However, we will continue our struggle to protect it,” she affirmed.

Atishi mentioned that they have not received any response. “We were merely attempting to submit a memorandum to the President and have been assured that it will be delivered to her. We will again seek time from the President because saving democracy is not just the responsibility of the AAP. It is also the duty of the media, and most importantly, of the President, who is the supreme guardian of this nation’s Constitution—the Constitution of Babasaheb Ambedkar. We hope that she will fulfill her role in protecting it,” she asserted.