Atishi condemns suspension of AAP MLAs, calls it an attack on democracy

AAP leader and Delhi Assembly Leader of Opposition (LoP) Atishi, has termed the suspension of 21 Aam Aadmi Party MLAs as an attack on democracy and urged Speaker Vijender Gupta to ensure fairness and protect democratic values.

In a letter to the Speaker on Friday, she called the action unjust and a severe blow to democratic principles.

"I am writing this letter with great pain and sorrow. The biggest strength of democracy is its fairness and equality. But whatever happened in the Delhi Assembly in the past few days is not only an injustice to the opposition MLAs but also a severe blow to democratic values," Atishi stated in her letter.

She alleged that "no action" was taken against any MLA from the ruling party. "On 25 February 2025, during the address of Lt Governor, MLAs of the ruling party raised slogans of 'Modi-Modi,' while the opposition MLAs raised slogans of 'Jai Bhim,' respecting the views of Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar. It is very unfortunate that no action was taken against any MLA of the ruling party, but 21 MLAs of the opposition were suspended from the House for 3 days for raising the slogan 'Jai Bhim'," she added.

Atishi further claimed that the "injustice did not stop" there. She stated that when the suspended MLAs attempted to protest peacefully in front of Mahatma Gandhi’s statue within the assembly premises, they were stopped 200 meters before the gate and "were prevented from entering the assembly premises."

She described the incident as an "insult" not only to the MLAs but also to the people's mandate. "You are the guardian of this assembly. It is the duty of the guardian to do equal justice to all the MLAs, whether they are from the ruling party or the opposition. I urge you to protect the democratic values and ensure that no MLA is deprived of his constitutional rights," Atishi wrote.

The controversy erupted on February 25 when tensions flared in the Delhi Assembly. Speaker Vijender Gupta suspended AAP MLAs, including Atishi and Gopal Rai, amid an uproar before the tabling of the CAG report.