On the final day of the Delhi Assembly session on Tuesday, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj accused BJP minister Parvesh Verma of appearing to exercise powers that are vested with the Speaker of the House.
Bharadwaj alleged that Verma was seen directing marshals to remove opposition legislators who were demanding a discussion on the alleged rice scam. A video of the incident circulated on social media, following which the AAP strongly objected and criticised the BJP government.
Sharing the video on social media platform X, Bharadwaj questioned the role of the Speaker, asking why the Speaker was needed if a minister was issuing orders to marshal out an opposition MLA.
Bharadwaj also shared the words allegedly spoken by Verma in the video. According to him, Verma can be heard directing the marshals to remove the legislator, allegedly saying, “Marshals, pick him up and throw him out. Don’t take him away gently, throw them out.”
Reacting to the video, Bharadwaj questioned whether a minister had the authority to issue such instructions inside the Assembly.
“Such powers belong to the Speaker. Since when have ministers started giving orders in the Assembly?” Bharadwaj asked, while also objecting to the language allegedly used by Verma against elected legislators.
Sanjeev Jha Slams Parvesh Verma
AAP chief whip in the Delhi Assembly, Sanjeev Jha, also strongly criticised Verma over the alleged incident.
In a post on X, Jha said opposition MLA Kuldeep Kumar was being taken out of the House by marshals following instructions from Delhi government minister Parvesh Verma.
Jha said opposition legislators were raising issues concerning the public and seeking answers from the government, including questions over the alleged rice scam. Instead of responding to those questions, he alleged, the government was attempting to suppress the voice of the Opposition.
“We are raising issues concerning the people, asking questions to the government and seeking an account of public money. But instead of giving answers, an attempt is being made to silence the voice of the Opposition,” Jha said.
Jha also directly criticised Verma, reminding him that elected legislators represent the people who send their concerns to the Assembly.
He said, “Remember, you are not merely insulting an opposition MLA. You are insulting the voice of the people who elected him to bring their questions to the House.”
The allegations have added to the political confrontation between the ruling BJP and the AAP in the Delhi Assembly, with the Opposition accusing the government of avoiding debate on issues it has raised.
The controversy erupted on the final day of the Assembly session, when AAP legislators were seeking a discussion on the alleged rice scam and demanding accountability from the government. The incident involving the marshals has now become another point of contention between the two sides, with the AAP questioning both the conduct of the minister and the manner in which proceedings inside the House were handled.
