AAP, BJP MLAs spar over Bangladehi migrants issue in Delhi Assembly

BJP legislator Vijender Gupta alleged that illegal Bangladeshi migrants “have been involved in crime” in his constituency and suggested that Delhi should also adopt the National Register of Citizens (NRC) to drive illegal migrants out of the city.

The fourth day of the Delhi Assembly’s Monsoon Session witnessed ruckus on Thursday after Leader of Opposition in the House Vijender Gupta and other Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs had a heated argument with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislators over the issue of illegal Bangladeshi migrants.

New Delhi, India-August 09, 2018: BJP MLA Vijender Gupta(R) seen holding some papers as OP Sharma(L) looks on as they leave after attending Delhi assembly session at Vidhan Sabha, in New Delhi, India-August 09,2018 (Sonu Mehta / Hindustan Times) (Sonu Mehta / HT Photo)

Gupta, in a letter to Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel, alleged he was “physically assaulted” by some AAP MLAs, including Okhla legislator Amanatullah Khan, and demanded action against them.

Khan, however, denied the allegations.

Gupta alleged in the House that illegal Bangladeshi migrants “have been involved in crime” in his constituency. He suggested that Delhi should also adopt the National Register of Citizens (NRC) to drive illegal migrants out of the city.

Gupta’s remarks caused uproar in the Assembly and the legislators from both the parties assembled in the well of the House. The situations worsened when around a dozen AAP MLAs were seen surrounding three BJP MLAs including OP Sharma and Jagdish Pradhan. Both sides were seen screaming at each other.

Seeing the ruckus speaker Goel adjourned the House for 30 minutes.

Gupta, in his letter, alleged he was “abused” by AAP MLAs and they “attempted to physically assault” him in front of the Speaker.

“With deep sorrow and anguish, we (BJP MLAs) want to record our protest against ‘mob lynching’ act in the Assembly today by AAP MLAs when a matter of Bangladeshi infiltrators was being taken up by us. A number of AAP MLAs threatened and attempted to physically assault us. MLA Amantullah Khan shouted at us and cast unspeakable abuses upon us,” Gupta said in the letter.

Reacting to allegations, Khan said: “Gupta is misleading the Speaker. He should check the dictionary before putting accusations of mob lynching. The BJP leader was not even touched.”

Before Thursday’s House session, Gupta had urged the police to file an FIR against chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and his three colleagues for “forcible occupation” of lieutenant-governor Anil Baijal’s office in June.

Kejriwal, with his deputy Manish Sisodia and ministers Satyendar Jain and Gopal Rai, had camped at Baijal’s office from June 11 to 19 demanding bureaucrats to call off their alleged strike.

“The probe must investigate as to how the CM and his ministers stayed away from discharging their duties and responsibilities in the most demanding times including water, environment crisis, and pre-monsoon desiliting of drains,” Gupta said in his complaint.