The Delhi Assembly on Friday adopted a resolution to revoke late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s Bharat Ratna in view of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The move has kicked off a massive row with the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) asking its MLA, Alka Lamba, to quit the party.
Alka Lamba said that she will tender her resignation as “demanded” by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for not supporting a resolution in the assembly.
MLA from Chandni Chowk said that she was not happy with the demand to take back Bharat Ratna from Rajiv Gandhi and staged a walkout in protest.
Interestingly, the AAP later distanced itself from the resolution.
“After I staged a walkout, I got a message from the chief minister to tender my resignation,” Lamba said
“I was asked to support the resolution demanding taking back the Bharat Ratna awarded to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Since I didn’t agree to this, I staged a walk out. I am ready to accept whatever punishment given to me,” Alka Lamba tweeted.
“Lines about Late Rajiv Gandhi were not part of resolution placed before house and distributed to the members. One MLA in his handwriting proposed an addition/amendment about Late Rajiv Gandhi. Amendments cannot be passed in this manner,” tweeted party MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj
Later, party MLA Somnath Bharti also weighed in on the matter, “In connection with a dispute about a line on Sri Rajiv Gandhi in the resolution passed in assembly today, I confirm that the line was not part of original resolution distributed to MLAs n it was me who suggested the line as an amendment n passed on to Sri Jarnail Singh Ji.”
“Jarnail ji didn’t propose that amendment n never put that 4 vote.Amendments r always put to vote separately n unless passed,that can’t form part of passed resolution.1st I talked of this in my speech n then suggested this amendment n party had no opportunity to see same,” Bharti added.
“I further clarify that amendment I proposed was not put to vote as an amendment n hence there is no question of passing the same. Hope this answers the dispute conclusively,” Bharti tweeted.
