BJP walks out of House over rejection of motion on sealing

New Delhi, Nov 8 (UNI) Delhi BJP president Harsh Vardhan and one of his colleagues, the only two party members left in the Assembly after expulsion of the Opposition yesterday, today walked out of the House to protest rejection of his 'kaam roko' motion on the sealing issue.

Soon after the House gathered for the day, Mr Harsh Vardhan drew the Speaker's attention towards largescale protests in the Capital over resumption of sealing and demanded that the House be adjourned taking into account the gravity of the situation.

''When the entire Delhi is burning, people are out on the streets and the whole city has been turned into a cantonment, how can the House be silent,'' he said.

''The House should be adjourned and members should join them to express solidarity as an emergency-like situation prevails in Delhi with peaceful demonstrators being denied their basic right to protest,'' he added.

However, Speaker Prem Singh rejected his proposal citing Rule 59 and 61 (5) saying the request was received late and the House had already held discussions on the issue earlier.

Protesting this, Mr Harsh Vardhan and Dayanand Chandila staged a quiet walkout from the House at about 1412 hrs, about 12 minutes of the starting of the House this afternoon.

The House later passed the 'Delhi Commission for Safai Karamcharis Bill 2006' moved by Minister for Welfare oF SC/ST Raj Kumar Chauhan, which, he said, was a milestone in the welfare of the oppressed class, and the 'Delhi Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill 2006' moved by Finance Minister A K Walia on the lowering of VAT on petroleum products to provide relief to the consumers.

UNI AN VA GC2028