Delhi CM says BJP’s ‘Operation Lotus’ failed here as all AAP MLAs were ‘hardcore honest’
Delhi CM says BJP’s ‘Operation Lotus’ failed here as all AAP MLAs were ‘hardcore honest’
Opposition BJP MLAs were on Monday ousted from the Delhi Assembly ahead of the confidence motion moved by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
The BJP MLAs were demanding a Calling Attention Motion and a brief discussion on various issues, including the Central Vigilance Commission’s report on the construction of classrooms and the excise policy.
He came to the Well of the House after Deputy Speaker Rakhi Birla rejected his demand for a calling attention motion. After this he asked him to leave the house for the whole day and later he was thrown out.
“The assembly session has been called to discuss serious issues. Opposition members did not respect the House and had to be ousted,” Ms Birla told the Assembly.
Later, while moving the resolution, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal alleged that the opposition party’s “Operation Lotus” to topple his government had failed as it could not buy any MLA from the Aam Aadmi Party.
He claimed that every AAP MLA is a “hardcore honest MLA”.
Rohini BJP MLA Vijender Gupta said he had proposed a calling attention motion on the CVC report on construction of classrooms in government schools.
“They (AAP) suppressed the report for two-and-a-half years and the Center had no hand in it. Now when the matter comes out in the open, they say that we are doing politics. We were thrown out because the government is trying to avoid discussion on the ongoing cases of corruption,” Mr Gupta told reporters outside the assembly.
He said that neither the AAP government wants to talk about corruption nor the opposition wants to raise the issue.
“It is clear that there was massive corruption in the construction of classrooms. It was a confidential report which they have not allowed to emerge from 2020 onwards.”
Responding to the confidence motion, Mr Gupta said it did not make sense as AAP has 62 out of the total 70 MLAs.
Leader of Opposition in the House Ramvir Singh Bidhuri said that the AAP government is running away from discussion on many issues like corruption.
“In the last 2.5 years since I have been a member, the Delhi government has not allowed discussion on various issues ranging from excise duty to pollution. Why are you suppressing the voice of the opposition? We have always said that we will give constructive criticism, yet you do not allow discussion,” Mr. Bidhuri said.
While moving the confidence motion, Mr Kejriwal said that the opposition members do not want to discuss but they are only indulging in drama.
“It is sad that they (BJP MLAs) are doing lousy politics.
The AAP national convener also alleged that the BJP targeted 40 AAP MLAs and offered each of them Rs 20 crore to switch sides.
He also accused the Center of waiving loans of billionaires but not students and farmers. He alleged that the present central government is “most corrupt” as they buy MLAs.
Challenging the BJP to buy out an AAP MLA, Kejriwal said, “The confidence motion is to show that ‘Operation Lotus’ could have succeeded in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and other states but failed here in Delhi. It is also to show that every AAP MLA is staunchly honest.”
Mr Kejriwal further alleged that the BJP toppled the Manipur, Bihar, Assam, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra governments.
He alleged that at some places he even paid ₹50 crore.
“You say you are against corruption but you are buying MLAs. This is the most corrupt (central) government. You will face the curse of the poor people. In 15 days, they will go to the Jharkhand government and then petrol and diesel prices. Will try to bring it down. Will go up,” Mr. Kejriwal said.
He said that next time when petrol and diesel prices increase, people will understand where the money is going.
The BJP had accused Mr Kejriwal of using the assembly for political campaigning and indulging in drama to divert people’s attention from his government’s liquor “scam”.
AAP has 62 MLAs in the 70-member Delhi Assembly, while the BJP has eight.