'Not for Masks but Disruption': Speaker rebuts Atishi as four AAP MLAs face action

The Delhi Legislative Assembly was the scene of an intense political standoff on Tuesday after Leader of Opposition Atishi claimed that Members of the House had been expelled simply for wearing masks, an allegation that was categorically dismissed by the Speaker's office as “factually incorrect” and misleading in nature.

- TIKAM SHARMA

As per the official record of proceedings, four Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs—Sanjeev Jha, Som Dutt, Kuldeep Kumar and Jarnail Singh—were suspended from the House on charges of deliberately disrupting the proceedings, and not for wearing masks. The Speaker's office clarified that the action taken by Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta was in no way related to the use of face coverings and was exercised solely to ensure the maintenance of order, authority and dignity of the House, strictly in accordance with the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of the Delhi Legislative Assembly.

Officials further stated that portraying the suspensions as expulsions linked to the wearing of masks amounted to a clear distortion and misrepresentation of facts. They emphasised that the Speaker's decision was taken in full conformity with established rules, conventions and longstanding parliamentary practice.