CM crossed lines of propriety: BJP

The Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party in Delhi on Friday registered a complaint in the Assembly against chief minister Sheila Dikshit for "contempt of House" and "breach of privilege" for her remarks on Thursday against lieutenant governor Tejendra Khanna.

The Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Delhi on Friday registered a complaint in the Assembly against chief minister Sheila Dikshit for "contempt of House" and "breach of privilege" for her remarks on Thursday against lieutenant governor Tejendra Khanna.

HT Image

Quoting excerpts from the chief minister's address in the Assembly in the motion for special statehood for Delhi on Thursday, the BJP said the CM had "crossed the lines of constitutional propriety".

"The chief minister has knowingly, deliberately and purposely reflected upon the conduct of the L-G…," Leader of Opposition VK Malhotra said in the complaint.

Rules 264-(2) (F) of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of the Assembly prohibits any speaker from reflecting upon the "conduct of the President, or any Governor or any Court of Justice".

While arguing in favour of the special status statehood, Dikshit had said the office of the L-G and the Home Ministry were, to paraphrase her, obstacles to her smooth governance in the Capital and that being an elected body, it was the government, and not the L-G, which is answerable to the people for their welfare.

"These kind of remarks are unconstitutional," Malhotra said.

But the Opposition party was in no position to take up the matter in the House on Thursday because in a repeat of the past two days, the government passed a motion to remove all BJP MLAs - third time in a row - for disrupting House proceedings.

The Opposition part is now considering moving a 'no confidence motion' against speaker Yoganand Shastri.

"How can the Speaker allow the government to table such undemocratic motions and

how can the speaker allow discussions without any quorum (the minimum number of members required to conduct business in the House)?" Malhotra said.

The BJP might not get a chance to move any motion because their suspension ends on the last day of the Winter Session and going by the stance of both sides, party sources said the last day would not be any different.

In her address, however, Dikshit refuted the charges and said the government's powers were being "eroded, diluted, encroached or vetoed".

"The logjam over circle rates is resulting in a loss of Rs 3 crore daily. Who is going to fulfil this huge loss?" the chief minister argued.