BJP Lawmaker OP Sharma after being escorted out of the Delhi Assembly today.
BJP lawmakers in the Delhi Assembly, overwhelmingly outnumbered 67 to three by the ruling Aam Aadmi Party, briefly made their presence felt during an emergency session of the House today. The episode ended with one of them, OP Sharma, being marched out of the assembly by marshals.
Amid a bitter turf war between Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung, the Delhi Assembly is discussing over two days how to limit the Lieutenant Governor's powers over key administrative matters for the capital, where he acts as a representative of the BJP-led Centre.
As discussions resumed after a tea break today, all three BJP lawmakers trooped into the well of the house to protest against what they alleged was a biased stand by the Speaker on the issue being debated. They demanded that Speaker Ram Niwas Goel withdraw his comments and Mr Sharma also suggested that he step down from his chair.
An angry Mr Goel then called in marshals who shunted Mr Sharma out.
Mr Sharma has alleged that AAP lawmakers used unparliamentary language against the LG and Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the debate.
The Centre had on Friday issued a notification which said the Lieutenant Governor is not obliged to consult the state government on key appointments.
AAP insists that an elected government cannot be overlooked in key decisions even though Delhi is not a full state and some powers are vested with the Lieutenant Governor. Mr Kejriwal alleges that the BJP is trying to control Delhi with its three legislators.
A High Court ruling yesterday backed the AAP government stand and said that the Lieutenant Governor is "bound to act upon the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers."
Yesterday, as AAP marked its 100 days in office with a massive "public cabinet" in a central Delhi park, Mr Kejriwal declared that he would "take back powers from the Centre in this term."