BJP protesters water cannoned outside Assembly

: Protests – both outside and inside the Delhi Assembly – marked yet another day of proceedings on Friday. Detentions were made by the local police under the Delhi Police Act before those placed under preventive custody were allowed to leave at the end of the day's business at the Vidhan Sabha.

A contingent of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) activists descended on the Vidhan Sabha's periphery to protest against what they termed was the “undemocratic” suspension of Vishwas Nagar MLA Om Prakash Sharma for his allegedly derogatory comments against Chandni Chowk legislator Alka Lamba.

This was followed by the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) own Timarpur MLA Pankaj Pushkar being suspended for two days as he kept on demanding a discussion on Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category in schools despite the Speaker’s objection.

The suspension bars Mr. Pushkar from partaking in the Assembly’s proceedings on Friday and on November 30 after Home Minister Satyendra Jain moved the proposal which was then voted upon. Following unanimous approval from the House, Speaker Ram Niwas Goel gave his ruling in favour of Mr. Pushkar’s suspension.

Meanwhile, the six women AAP MLAs icluding Ms. Lamba, walked out of the House demanding Mr. Sharma’s “permanent suspension” for using derogatory language against her.

Earlier, Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta gave a notice demanding suspension of House proceedings alleging that the government was not following the constitution in its functioning. It was rejected by the Speaker prompting a walkout by Mr. Gupta and BJP MLA Jagdish Pradhan.

The agitated protesters tried to dismantle police barricade but were dispersed with the use of water canons. BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri alleged “Deputy CM Manish Sisodia had put forward AAP MLA Alka Lamba to attack the Mr Sharma and she has followed it along with other female MLAs of her party.” While claiming that Sharma did not say anything as “alleged by AAP”, Bidhuri added, “he (Sharma) should be given a chance to explain what he said.” “He did not use unparliamentarily words and the party and its high command is with Sharma,” he added.

BJP national general secretary R P Singh accused that the protest by AAP MLAs was a “ploy” to derail the ongoing Assembly session and “divert” attention from important issues.

“They want to divert attention towards less important issues from the important ones by derailing the proceedings of the Assembly session,” he added.