In a dramatic session of the Delhi Assembly on Tuesday, 12 opposition MLAs—including former Aam Aadmi Party Chief Minister Atishi, now the Leader of the Opposition—were suspended following heated exchanges with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over an auditor’s report into the alleged liquor policy scam.
The controversy erupted after the Comptroller and Auditor-General (CAG) tabled its report in the Assembly, highlighting alleged irregularities in the previous AAP government’s excise policy. The report is one of more than a dozen documents accusing AAP leaders of corruption, allegations that have fueled political tensions since the BJP’s victory in the recent Delhi elections.
The BJP-led government has claimed that the report further substantiates its allegations of financial misconduct by the AAP, a claim the opposition vehemently denies.
Atishi Leads Opposition Protest
Atishi, now serving as the Leader of the Opposition, strongly opposed the report’s findings, calling it an attempt to malign AAP’s governance. Her protest, however, was met with resistance from the ruling party, resulting in her and 11 other opposition MLAs being suspended from the proceedings.
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Amid the escalating row, Atishi also slammed the BJP for allegedly replacing Dr BR Ambedkar’s photograph in the Assembly with that of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She vowed to continue her protest until the original photograph is reinstated, calling the move “an insult to India’s Constitution and democracy.”
Political Fallout and Reactions
The suspension of opposition lawmakers has deepened the political divide in Delhi. AAP leaders accused the BJP of using the Assembly to silence dissent and deflect attention from pressing governance issues. “This is nothing but an attempt to suppress the opposition and avoid a real discussion on governance failures,” said an AAP spokesperson.
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Meanwhile, BJP leaders defended the decision, stating that the opposition was disrupting Assembly proceedings and disrespecting democratic norms. “The government will not tolerate chaos in the House. If opposition members refuse to cooperate, action will be taken,” a BJP official stated.
Future Course of Action
With tensions running high, political analysts predict further confrontations between the BJP and AAP in the coming days. The opposition has announced plans to escalate its protests, while the ruling party remains firm on its stance regarding the alleged liquor policy scam.
As Delhi’s political landscape continues to shift, all eyes will be on how both sides navigate the unfolding crisis and its impact on governance in the national capital.
