Fresh BJP-AAP Clash: Atishi Alleges MLAs Barred from Delhi Assembly After Suspension

Days after Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs were suspended from the Delhi Assembly, Leader of Opposition (LoP) Atishi claimed on Thursday that AAP legislators were being prevented from entering the Assembly premises following their three-day suspension from House proceedings.

Atishi, who won the Kalkaji seat in the recent Delhi Assembly elections, accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of "crossing all limits of dictatorship" after assuming power.

The confrontation escalated on Tuesday when Atishi and other AAP MLAs protested against the alleged removal of B. R. Ambedkar's portrait from the Chief Minister’s office. In response, Speaker Vijender Gupta suspended 21 AAP legislators for disrupting Lt. Governor V. K. Saxena’s inaugural address to the newly formed Assembly.

Reacting to Thursday's developments, former Delhi Chief Minister took to social media platform X, highlighting that AAP MLAs were being denied entry into the Vidhan Sabha, calling it an unprecedented event in Delhi Assembly history.

"AAP MLAs were suspended for three days merely for chanting 'Jai Bhim.' Now, they are not even allowed inside the Vidhan Sabha premises. This has never happened before in the history of the Delhi Legislative Assembly," Atishi remarked.

Addressing reporters, she further stated, "Police officials are telling us that since we are suspended, we cannot even step into the Assembly premises. This is unconstitutional and undemocratic. Such restrictions have never been imposed in the country’s history. Even in Parliament, suspended members continue to protest under the Gandhi statue. How can we be stopped? We attempted to discuss the matter with the Speaker, but no action has been taken."

Denied entry into the Assembly, Atishi and other AAP MLAs staged a protest outside.

The suspension, affecting 21 out of 22 AAP legislators, coincided with the Delhi government's tabling of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report on the liquor policy, intensifying the political standoff between AAP and BJP.

Okhla MLA Amanatullah Khan was the only AAP legislator spared from suspension, as he was absent during the protest. The motion to suspend the MLAs was introduced by Minister Parvesh Verma.

The confrontation began when, during the LG’s address, AAP legislators raised slogans opposing the alleged removal of portraits of Ambedkar and Bhagat Singh from the CM’s office. In response, Speaker Vijender Gupta ordered the removal of 21 MLAs from the House for disrupting proceedings.

Following their suspension, AAP MLAs staged a demonstration inside the Assembly complex, displaying portraits of Ambedkar. Atishi strongly criticized the BJP, accusing it of attempting to erase Ambedkar’s legacy. "By removing Babasaheb Ambedkar's portrait, the BJP has revealed its true intentions. Do they believe Prime Minister Narendra Modi can replace Babasaheb?" she questioned.