BJP MLAS protest Gahlot’s presence, marshalled out

NEW DELHI: Lieutenant-governor Anil Baijal’s inaugural speech was subjected to drama as BJP legislators protested the presence of transport minister Kailash Gahlot in the House. Gahlot is one of the 20 AAP MLAS who have been disqualified by the Election Commission for allegedly holding office of profit.

Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta and three other BJP MLAS — O P Sharma, Manjinder Singh Sirsa and Jagdish Pradhan — demanded that only elected members be allowed in the House.

The BJP MLAS then entered the well of the House protesting Gahlot’s participation. Taking strong objection to their “misbehaviour”, assembly speaker Ram Niwas Goel asked all four opposition MLAS to be marshalled out.

The speaker charged the Opposition MLAS with demeaning the office of L-G as well as the House. “It is highly regretted that the members of the Opposition caused disturbance,” Goel said.

Criticising the move, Gupta said, “Bona fide members are marshalled out while a disqualified MLA who is a minister gets to attend the budget session.”

The speaker, citing constitutional rules, clarified that the minister could attend the assembly proceedings for six months from the date of disqualification.

“I would like to clarify that as per Section 43 (2) of the NCT Act, he (Gahlot) can continue as a minister for six months without being a member of the House,” the speaker said.