(Image source from: ANI)
On Tuesday morning, fifteen MLAs from the Aam Aadmi Party, including former Chief Minister Atishi, currently the Leader of the Opposition, faced suspension from the Delhi Assembly amid tensions with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party related to an auditor's report concerning an alleged liquor policy scam. Gopal Rai, a prominent AAP member who managed to retain his seat in the recent elections (unlike party leader Arvind Kejriwal), was also removed from the Assembly. Following this, Speaker Vijender Gupta called for an adjournment of the House until noon. The report presented today, issued by the Comptroller and Auditor-General (CAG), is part of a series of over a dozen documents alleging that the AAP mismanaged funds during its administration in Delhi until the BJP's electoral victory earlier this month. Additionally, another report, not yet released, delves into claims surrounding the 'sheeshmahal' scandal, which alleges that taxpayers’ money was misappropriated for luxury renovations on the bungalow that Kejriwal used while serving as Chief Minister.
These corruption allegations have been a significant issue for both the AAP and Kejriwal, who, along with his former deputy Manish Sisodia, was imprisoned for several months. This controversy played a role in the party's significant defeat in the recent elections, where the BJP secured 48 out of 70 seats, a remarkable increase compared to their totals in the previous two elections. The altercation in the Assembly ignited after Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena's opening remarks, leading AAP MLAs to express their protest with chants of "Jai Bhim" and showing images of Dr. BR Ambedkar. They objected to the purported removal of his and Bhagat Singh’s photos from the new Chief Minister Rekha Gupta's office, alleging that these had been replaced by images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The BJP has refuted these claims, accusing the AAP of dishonesty. The BJP shared videos from Gupta’s office, displaying that while Ambedkar's and Bhagat Singh’s portraits had indeed been moved to side walls, they had been substituted with portraits of Mahatma Gandhi, President Droupadi Murmu, and Modi.
बाबा साहब का अपमान, नहीं सहेगा हिंदुस्तान
— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) February 25, 2025
BJP सरकार द्वारा मुख्यमंत्री और मंत्रियों के कार्यालयों से बाबा साहब भीमराव अंबेडकर जी की तस्वीर हटाने और उनके अपमान के विरोध में नेता विपक्ष @AtishiAAP जी के नेतृत्व में आम आदमी पार्टी के विधायकों का विधानसभा के बाहर विरोध-प्रदर्शनpic.twitter.com/rCD2TFF8Mv
In response, Atishi asserted her commitment to protesting until the photos are returned to their original positions. Following this, the expelled MLAs gathered outside the Delhi Assembly, continuing their demonstrations with placards and chants against the newly established BJP-led government. AAP MLA Sanjeev Jha expressed outrage, stating, "In the Chief Minister’s office, Dr. BR Ambedkar’s portrait was switched out for PM Modi’s... when we questioned the Speaker about whether Modi was more significant than Ambedkar, we faced suspension... They (BJP) despise Dr. Ambedkar, but the nation will not tolerate such actions." In retort, BJP's Parvesh Verma accused the AAP of causing disruption, asserting that his party would bring to light the "corruption" of the previous administration.
The long-awaited CAG report has finally arrived, and it will reveal the magnitude of corruption within the AAP. The people of Delhi have faced significant exploitation. Mr. Verma, who was considered a leading candidate for Chief Minister until Ms. Gupta's announcement and who triumphed over Arvind Kejriwal for the New Delhi constituency, wasn't the only member of the Delhi BJP to respond with criticism.
Delhi's Environment Minister, Manjinder Sirsa, stated, "Today, the CAG report, which has brought to light the scams of Kejriwal's administration, will be presented in the Assembly. There will be 14 such reports introduced sequentially... Kejriwal concealed them for three years, aware that his corrupt practices would come to light." More vocal protests are anticipated when the CAG report concerning the purported liquor policy is officially presented, which the BJP aims to do later today or tomorrow. The report criticizes the liquor policy introduced by the AAP during Arvind Kejriwal's tenure as Chief Minister, noting that "the actual implementation was sub-par and the goals were unmet." Among numerous critical observations, the CAG report highlights a "lack of scrutiny regarding the financial capability and management skills of the businesses to which the AAP government granted liquor licenses." Furthermore, the report asserts that "responsibility and accountability must be established for observed shortcomings, and the enforcement mechanisms ought to be enhanced."
