High drama marked the last day of the six-day Winter Session of the Delhi Assembly which ended in little over one hour amidst the Opposition BJP MLAs staying put in the well of the House to press for a House Committee enquiry into the alleged financial bungling in the just concluded Commonwealth Games.
Amidst pandemonium, the Assembly passed two legislative bills, namely “The Delhi Prevention of Touting and Malpractices against Tourists Bill, 2010” and the “Delhi VAT Amendment Bill, 2010”.
After repeated demands for a House Committee was ignored by the Speaker Yoganand Shastri, the BJP MLAs, led by the leader of the Opposition V.K. Malhotra, sat in the well and chanted “bhajan”, including Mahatma Gandhi’s famed “Ragupati Raghav Raja Ram”.
As soon as the House convened for the day, Mr Malhotra brought to the notice of the Speaker that the House functioned without the requisite quorum and even passed resolutions earlier. Later, speaking o reporters, Mr Malhotra stated that the business of the House was conducted in “illegal” and “unconstitutional” manner. “The rule of the National Capital Territory Government of Delhi, 1991, clearly states that it is the responsibility of the Speaker to adjourn the House in the absence of quorum but the House was allowed to function against the rules,” stated Mr Malhotra.
The senior BJP leader also charged that even party MLAs were expelled from the House without following the norms as set by the rule book of the Assembly.
On the last day, the Delhi Assembly was adjourned sine die within a little over an hour, as there were not enough questions to be raised during the Question Hour, as those listed in the names of the BJP MLAs were not taken up as they continued with their demand for House Committee enquiry into the Games. Even on the last day, seven BJP MLAs were evicted from the House following the instructions of the Speaker.