In a move that has sparked outrage, BJP Speaker Vijender Gupta refused to allow a discussion on Delhi’s deteriorating law and order situation in the Assembly, calling it a “waste of time.” The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has hit back, pointing out that the Speaker is shielding the BJP-led central and Delhi governments from accountability.
Leader of Opposition (LoP) Atishi condemned the decision, highlighting the rising incidents of shootings, crimes against women, and rampant drug trade in the city. “If the problems of Delhi’s people cannot be raised in the Assembly, then where will they be discussed?” she asked, slamming the BJP for turning a blind eye to the capital’s safety and security crisis.
Delhi Assembly LoP Atishi today raised serious concerns over the worsening law and order situation in Delhi, stating that incidents of firing, kidnapping, murder, and rape have become commonplace. She highlighted that drugs are being sold openly, with even young children falling victim to addiction. However, when AAP MLAs attempted to raise this issue in the Assembly, Speaker Vijender Gupta dismissed it, calling it a “waste of time” and refusing to allow any discussion on law and order.
Atishi questioned, “If MLAs cannot raise the concerns of Delhi’s people in the Assembly, where else should they raise them? If law and order is not to be discussed, then why do Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Home Minister Ashish Sood hold meetings with Union Home Minister Amit Shah? If they have no intention of addressing the issue, then why make empty claims about improving law and order? This is sheer hypocrisy.”
She further stated that the BJP’s double-engine government has completely failed to maintain law and order in Delhi. “The situation is deteriorating rapidly, and instead of addressing the crisis, Speaker Vijender Gupta is suppressing discussions in the Assembly to cover up the BJP’s failures,” she said.
Atishi also criticized the biased approach of the Assembly Speaker, stating, “If someone raises the issues of Delhi’s people, they are thrown out of the Assembly. However, if a minister or ruling party MLA misbehaves, they are celebrated. Will the concerns of Delhi’s people not be addressed in the Assembly? Rape, extortion, shootings, and open drug sales are rampant in Delhi. Drugs have become the biggest problem for Delhi’s youth and children today.
“When we raise this issue and demand a discussion, BJP members claim it is a waste of time. On one hand, the AAP government in Punjab has declared a war on drugs, eliminating drug dealers, using bulldozers, and taking strict legal action. On the other hand, the BJP refuses to even allow a discussion on drugs and law and order,” pointed out the Delhi Assembly LoP.
BJP Ministers’ Offensive Remarks Against LoP Atishi in Assembly Expose Party’s Mindset Towards Women: Kuldeep Kumar
Senior AAP leader and MLA Kuldeep Kumar highlighted that during Question Hour, ministers and the Chief Minister are required to answer questions related to their departments. LoP Atishi asked Speaker Vijender Gupta why CM Rekha Gupta had been absent from the Assembly during Question Hour for two consecutive days. She demanded to know who would answer questions regarding her departments. The Speaker authorized MLA Pravesh Verma to respond, but instead of answering, he made an offensive remark toward Atishi, saying, “Where did you bring her from?”
Condemning this language, Kuldeep Kumar said, “Can this be the language of the Assembly? No one should speak like this, even outside the House.” He added that such statements reflect the BJP’s deeply ingrained misogyny. “How can a party that has a woman Chief Minister allow such disrespect toward the Leader of Opposition? When Delhi’s women hear these words, they will feel hurt and humiliated. If this is how they treat the Leader of Opposition, how do they treat ordinary women who visit their offices?”
He further reminded that BJP leader Ramesh Bidhuri had previously used objectionable language against Atishi as well. “If BJP leaders continue to use such derogatory language inside and outside the House, it is deeply concerning. This is not just an insult to Atishi; it is an insult to all the women of Delhi. The people of Delhi will not forgive Pravesh Verma. We demanded that the Speaker remove Verma’s offensive remarks from the official record and ask him to apologize, but instead, AAP MLAs were thrown out of the Assembly.”
Kuldeep Kumar also refuted Parvesh Verma’s defense, stating that his remarks are on record. “Parvesh Verma, pointing at Atishi, asked, ‘Where did you bring her from?’ We demand that this be expunged from the record and that he issue an apology. However, instead of action against him, we are facing consequences. The Speaker refuses to act against those who insult women. If they behave like this on camera, how do they behave off-camera?”
AAP Will Take BJP’s Misconduct to the People of Delhi: AAP MLA Vishesh Ravi
Commenting on their suspension from the Assembly, AAP MLA Vishesh Ravi criticized the lack of transparency in the decision. “It is not even clear for how many days we have been suspended. The people of Delhi must reflect on whom they have elected—leaders who openly misbehave with women in the Assembly. If such language can be used against a former Chief Minister and the current LoP, what can ordinary women expect on the streets? What message are ministers sending by using such language?”
Vishesh Ravi emphasized that AAP will take this issue directly to the people. “We will go among Delhi’s citizens and expose the true face of those they have elected. How can anyone expect such individuals to work for Delhi’s welfare or ensure women’s safety?”
