BJP MLAs to meet President over Gahlot’s presence

New Delhi: On Saturday, Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupta said that the chief minister wants to retain disqualified legislator from Najafgarh, Kailash Gahlot, in the House illegally.

He said that a BJP delegation will meet the President, the lieutenant-governor and the home minister to complain against this illegal act of the city government. The Opposition will raise this issue in the House again on March 19, he said. Mr Gupta announced that BJP will also go to the court against this illegal act of the Delhi government.

Seeing the disqualified MLA, Mr Gahlot, present in the House during the address of the lieutenant-governor on Friday, Mr Gupta had raised the matter in the Assembly.

“The government, with its majority power, wants to retain him in the House illegally. That’s why BJP MLAs were marshalled out of the House with ex parte decision of the government, which is strongly condemnable,” said Mr Gupta.

Citing Rule 43 (2) of the Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business, Mr Gupta mentioned that it is clearly stated in the above said rule that a minister, who for any period of six consecutive months, is not a member of the Legislative Assembly, shall, at the expiration of that period, cease to be a minister. It is nowhere written in the Rules of Procedure that a member of Legislative Assembly, who is declared disqualified from being member of the Assembly, could hold the ministerial position for six months.

“The government wants to retain Mr Gahlot by acting absolutely illegally and immorally,” claimed Mr Gupta.

He said that through a circular dated 8 March, 2018, Mr Gahlot figures in the list of those 20 MLAs who stand disqualified for being members of the House.

“The government is misusing Rule 43 (2) by twisting it, which is absolutely wrong,” Mr Gupta added.