Atishi writes to speaker after 21 MLAs, including her, suspended
What's the story
Atishi, the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Delhi Assembly, has written to Speaker Vijender Gupta, calling the suspension of 21 Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs an "injustice to opposition."
The MLAs were suspended by Speaker Gupta after they protested against the alleged removal of BR Ambedkar's portrait from the CM's office, disrupting Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena's inaugural address.
Letter details
Atishi's letter highlights concerns over democratic rights
In her letter to Gupta, Atishi expressed her concerns over the incident.
"I am writing this letter with great pain and sorrow. The biggest strength of democracy is its fairness and equality. But whatever happened in the Delhi Assembly in the past few days is not only injustice to the opposition MLAs, but also a severe blow to democratic values," she wrote.
Twitter Post
Read her letter here
दिल्ली विधान सभा अध्यक्ष विजेंद्र गुप्ता जी को मेरा पत्र… pic.twitter.com/loF2MbvigY
— Atishi (@AtishiAAP) February 28, 2025
Unfair practices
Atishi questions unequal treatment of ruling party MLAs
Atishi also noted that no action was taken against ruling party MLAs who raised slogans during Saxena's address.
The AAP leader alleged that when the suspended MLAs were going to peacefully protest in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue in the Delhi assembly premises, they were stopped and barred from entering the assembly grounds.
"This is an insult not only to the MLAs but also to the mandate given by the people," she said.
Appeal
Atishi appeals to speaker's experience as opposition leader
In her letter, Atishi also reminded Gupta of his own days as an opposition leader.
She recalled that even when he was suspended from the House for some reason, he wasn't stopped from going to the assembly premises and registering a protest in front of the Gandhi statue.
"But today, the rights of the MLAs of the opposition are being violated," she added.
Okhla MLA Amanatullah Khan was the only AAP politician not suspended because he was not present.