Delhi Speaker suspends 12 AAP MLAs for slogans.
Delhi Minister Atishi accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of disrespecting Dr. She claimed that this act was an insult to the architect of the Indian Constitution and showed the BJP’s disregard for his legacy. Atishi further stated that the removal was politically motivated and intended to erase Ambedkar’s influence. The BJP, however, denied the allegations, calling them baseless and politically driven to mislead the public.
Delhi Speaker Expels 12 AAP MLAs for Raising Slogans Over Ambedkar Portrait Row
New Delhi: Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta on Tuesday expelled 12 Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs, including Leader of Opposition Atishi, from the House for the day after they raised slogans during Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena’s address. The move led to a fresh confrontation between the AAP and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with the former accusing the ruling party of disrespecting Dr. BR Ambedkar by allegedly removing his portrait from the Chief Minister’s office.
AAP MLAs Expelled for Protest
The MLAs expelled from the House included senior AAP leaders such as Atishi, Gopal Rai, Veer Singh Dhingan, Mukesh Ahlawat, Chaudhary Zubair Ahmed, Anil Jha, Vishesh Ravi, and Jarnail Singh. Their removal came after they disrupted proceedings by shouting slogans against the BJP-led administration in Delhi.
AAP members alleged that the BJP was attempting to erase the legacy of Dr. BR Ambedkar, a claim that further escalated tensions between the two parties.
Atishi Slams BJP, Accuses It of Insulting Ambedkar
Speaking at a press conference, Atishi launched a scathing attack on the BJP, alleging that the party had removed Ambedkar’s portrait from the Chief Minister’s office at the Delhi Secretariat. She further claimed that the BJP-led administration had also taken down his portrait from the Assembly building.
Does it believe that Prime Minister Narendra Modi can replace Babasaheb?”** Atishi questioned, directly challenging the party’s stance on Ambedkar’s legacy.
She accused the BJP of attempting to diminish Ambedkar’s contributions to India’s democracy and Constitution, calling it an “insult” to the values he stood for.
BJP Dismisses Allegations, Calls Them Politically Motivated
In response, the BJP strongly denied the allegations, calling them baseless and politically motivated. Party leaders claimed that no such removal of Ambedkar’s portrait had taken place and accused AAP of using the issue to divert attention from the ongoing controversies surrounding the party.
BJP spokesperson Harish Khurana hit back at Atishi, stating, “AAP is making false claims to mislead the public. The BJP has always respected Dr. Ambedkar and his contributions. These allegations are nothing but an attempt to gain political mileage.”
He further accused AAP of playing “identity politics” and using Ambedkar’s name to distract from governance failures.
AAP MLAs Hold Protest Outside Assembly
Following their suspension, the expelled AAP MLAs gathered outside the Assembly building, carrying Ambedkar’s portraits and raising slogans against the BJP. The protest was joined by AAP workers, who accused the BJP of systematically trying to erase Ambedkar’s influence.
AAP leaders reiterated that the party would continue to fight against any attempts to undermine Ambedkar’s contributions. They also demanded that the BJP clarify its stance on the alleged removal of the portrait and take corrective action if the allegations were true.
Political Fallout and Growing Tensions
The controversy has added to the already tense relations between AAP and BJP in Delhi. With the upcoming elections on the horizon, both parties are likely to use this issue to mobilize their voter base.
While AAP is framing the incident as an attack on Ambedkar’s legacy, the BJP is countering by portraying AAP’s allegations as an attempt to distract from corruption charges and governance failures.
The political battle over Ambedkar’s legacy is not new, as multiple parties have historically invoked his name for electoral gains. However, this latest episode has reignited debates over how political parties engage with Ambedkar’s contributions to India’s democratic framework.
Conclusion
The expulsion of 12 AAP MLAs and the subsequent protests over the alleged removal of Ambedkar’s portrait have added another chapter to the ongoing AAP-BJP tussle in Delhi. While AAP continues to press its allegations, the BJP’s outright dismissal of the claims ensures that the controversy will remain a key political issue in the coming days.
As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen whether AAP will escalate its protests or whether BJP will take any action to counter the narrative. One thing is certain: Ambedkar’s legacy remains a potent and politically charged issue in Indian politics.