By Monday afternoon, there was no opposition left in the Delhi assembly after Bharatiya Janata Party legislator Vijender Gupta was removed from the House kicking and screaming for protesting against the suspension of fellow BJP legislator OP Sharma.
Sharma had been suspended for the entire session by Speaker Ram Niwas Goel last week after he allegedly made derogatory comments against AAP legislator Alka Lamba last week in the Delhi Assembly.
On Monday, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia was scheduled to introduce the controversial Delhi Janlokpal Bill 2015 in the Assembly. But Gupta, the leader of Opposition, chose to defend his colleague Sharma and got into an argument with women legislators in the House. He was aided by the other BJP MLA, Jagdish Pradhan. Gupta also accused the Speaker of being partial to the Aam Aadmi Party and alleged that BJP legislators were abused and assaulted by AAP members.
The Speaker called his actions unwarranted and asked Gupta to leave the House till 4 pm. But Gupta wouldn't budge. When the marshals arrived to escort him out of the building, he held on to a railing and refused to move. When verbal negotiations didn't work, the marshals forcibly lifted Gupta and dragged him out the House.
Pradhan walked out of the House after the incident, leaving no member of Opposition in the Assembly. In a series of tweets, Gupta said he had sustained injuries in the incident and criticised the Aam Aadmi Party.
Forced out of Delhi Assembly in the most unparliamentary fashion. AAP govt wants to muzzle opposition voice on imp bills like Janlokpal.
— Vijender Gupta (@Gupta_vijender) November 30, 2015
Received injuries on my left arm & below the right eye due to inhuman act by marshals on the order of the Speaker in Delhi Assembly.
— Vijender Gupta (@Gupta_vijender) November 30, 2015
Getting medical examination done at Aruna Asaf Ali Hospital.
— Vijender Gupta (@Gupta_vijender) November 30, 2015
Incidentally, this is not the first time that Gupta has had to be forcibly evicted from the House. Earlier this year, he had to be physically removed when he refused to stop shouting during proceedings.
Some observers on Twitter (and in the Assembly) spotted some humour in the incident.
Delhi Assembly gets tech-savvy. Introduces 'Drag & Drop'. https://t.co/sFopaepRrK
— Shirish Kunder (@ShirishKunder) November 30, 2015
Am I the only One observing #Aap Lady MLA's laughing on Vijender Gupta in Delhi Assembly, or is it Photoshop ??? pic.twitter.com/ftK4q9glKd
— Jai Shri Ram (@Logical_Bhaqt) November 30, 2015
@Gupta_vijender You mean like this?;#AAPkaStrongLokpal pic.twitter.com/BrTZyLiZ0T
— The Dictator (@Roflnath) November 30, 2015