AAP using force of brute majority, says Vijender Gupta

New Delhi, Feb 23: BJP on Monday accused the Aam Aadmi Party of using force of "brute majority" and alleged that it had planned to give them back benches in the house, but the move was thwarted by the Assembly secretariat.

Vijender Gupta said despite its reduced number, the BJP, which has only three MLAs in the House, will not be bogged down.

The BJP leader said he was not allowed to speak in the first Assembly session today when he raised the issue of media being denied permission to Delhi secretariat. Speaker Ram Niwas Goel first permitted Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia to read out their congratulatory messages.

This was followed by Goel inviting Gupta to do the same. However, the Speaker objected when he raised the issue of not allowing the media to enter the Delhi Secretariat.

"I want to raise two issues. First, the new government has put restrictions on the media because of which the whole of Delhi is stunned. It is like dictatorship," Gupta said as he was interrupted by the Speaker and some AAP MLAs too started protesting over the comments.

Later, speaking to reporters, Gupta alleged that he was subjected to hooting by AAP legislators when he tried to raise the issue.

"Today's incident reflected their arrogance and pride. Sisodia had plans to throw us on back benches, but the plan was thrawted by the assembly secretariat. If they (the government) thinks they can supress us then it is not going to happen," he said.

Speaking on the issue of Leader of Opposition, Gupta, who is BJP's Leader of Legislature Party, said, "We will not ask for the post of the Leader of Opposition. But we want the Speaker to go by the rule book."

When asked whether the party would accept the post of LoP if made an offer to which Gupta said, "If the Speaker makes an offer, we will give it a thought."

PTI