Kapil Mishra dragged out of Delhi assembly, says ‘AAP MLAs ordered to attack me’

Rebel AAP MLA Kapil Mishra was dragged out of the Delhi assembly by party MLAs after the speaker ordered marshals to remove him.

The Aam Aadmi Party plunged into another crisis on Wednesday after rebel AAP MLA Kapil Mishra was roughed up by party legislators and dragged out of the Delhi Assembly by marshals. Mishra later claimed that he was ‘attacked’ on the orders of deputy CM Manish Sisodia.

AAP MLA Kapil Mishra showing his bruises after being thrown out of the Delhi Assembly on Wednesday. (Sonu Mehta / HT Photo)

High drama unfolded the Delhi assembly when deputy CM Manish Sisodia was trying to respond to opposition leader Vijender Gupta’s allegations about shortage of medicines in Delhi government hospitals. Kapil Mishra got up and sought a response from the speaker about a special session at Ramlila Maidan to discuss alleged corruption in the Aam Aadmi Party and the Delhi government.

Speaker warned Mishra to not speak out of turn. Mishra then unfurled a banner asking for the special session. The Speaker then observed that this was not in keeping with the dignity of the assembly and asked marshals to remove Mishra. Things turned ugly as even before the marshals could come, a scuffle broke out between the MLAs and Mishra.

Scenes from the assembly showed Mishra surrounded by AAP MLAs, being pushed, shoved and manhandled before he was dragged out.

Speaking to the media after the incident Mishra claimed that deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia directed “four-five MLAs” to beat him. Sisodia is yet to respond to the allegation.

“I saw the face of two MLAs Madan Lal and Jarnail Singh. I demand release footage of Vidhan Sabha proceeding,” Mishra said. “As I got up from my seat, they started hitting me. They used their hands and legs. Your cameras saw it all,” Mishra said. “Usually marshals are called to remove a member from the House. This must have been the first time that MLAs were called.”

Mishra said he is seeking an appointment from lieutenant governor Anil Baijal to apprise him of the incident in the assembly. Steering clear of the controversy, Speaker Ram Niwas Goel maintained that the incident was ‘unfortunate’. “(AAP) members should not have left their seat and gone to Mishra. Mishra’s conduct also defied the legislative norms,” the speaker said.