AAP–BJP face-off escalates amid CAG-backed corruption allegations

The political showdown between the Aam Aadmi Get together (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Get together (BJP) intensified on the second day of the Delhi meeting session, with accusations and counter-accusations flying thick.

Whereas the BJP and its allied media alleged that the earlier AAP authorities obstructed the Anti-Corruption Department (ACB) from investigating 53 graft instances, AAP leaders hit again, claiming their MLAs had been being forcibly stored out of the meeting premises.

The confrontation comes within the wake of the Comptroller and Auditor Basic (CAG) report, which revealed an alleged Rs 2,000 crore loss to the exchequer through the AAP’s tenure.

Immediately, 27 February, forward of the third day of the brand new session below the BJP authorities, AAP MLAs staged a protest outdoors the meeting, alleging that they had been being denied entry on the Speaker’s orders.

Chief of the Opposition Atishi, together with different AAP legislators, accused the police of blocking their means with barricades.

Taking to X, Atishi wrote, “AAP MLAs had been suspended for 3 days for chanting ‘Jai Bhim.’ Immediately, they aren’t even being allowed to enter the Vidhan Sabha premises.”

Atishi slammed the Speaker’s choice, calling it “undemocratic and unconstitutional”.

She argued that even suspended MPs in Parliament are allowed to protest below the Gandhi statue, however right here, AAP MLAs had been being bodily barred from the Delhi meeting premises. “We tried to talk to the Speaker, however nothing is being executed,” she added.

Defending the Speaker’s choice, BJP leaders maintained that the disruptions attributable to AAP MLAs had introduced meeting proceedings to a halt.

Delhi minister Kapil Mishra said, “No meeting within the nation can perform with such behaviour. For 10 years, the problems of Delhi haven’t been mentioned right here. The opposition should study to conduct itself in a dignified method.”

Delhi minister Parvesh Sahib Singh additional criticised the AAP authorities’s dealing with of key infrastructure tasks. “The price of the Barapulla venture has doubled as a result of no minister adopted up on it.”

On the contentious CAG report, Singh remarked, “We are going to expose the Rs 2,000 crore rip-off. An investigation will even be carried out into the ‘Sheeshmahal’ expenditure.”

Speaker Vijender Gupta had on 25 February prolonged the suspension of 21 AAP MLAs for 3 extra days after they had been marshalled out for protesting in opposition to the elimination of Babasaheb Ambedkar and Bhagat Singh’s portraits from the chief minister’s workplace.

With either side digging of their heels, the continuing AAP–BJP conflict within the Delhi meeting is much from over. Whereas the BJP is leveraging corruption allegations to focus on AAP, the opposition is utilizing its ouster from the meeting as a rallying cry in opposition to ‘authoritarianism’.