BJP MLA O P Sharma, who has been suspended from Delhi assembly for two sessions for allegedly making derogatory remarks against AAP legislator Alka Lamba, today claimed before Delhi High Court that the approach of the Assembly Speaker was "biased" against him.
Sharma's counsel alleged before Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva that the Ethics Committee, which dealt with this matter, never considered the explanation given by him which clearly showed the extent of bias against his client.
"The explanation as to why the said utterances were made by O P Sharma was never considered by the Ethics Committee. The statements made by Sharma was a spontaneous reaction to the verbal provocation by Alka Lamba," his counsel said.
"Verbal provocation by Lamba was never recorded as part of the assembly proceedings but only the reaction of Sharma was recorded," the lawyer said, adding "the Speaker's approach in dealing with the matter was biased".
During the hearing, the bench asked Sharma's counsel, "You are saying that proceedings of the Legislative Assembly were thoroughly biased but these proceedings cannot be questioned here. You still have to address on the issue of judicial intervention".
The arguments on the plea filed by Sharma, who has challenged his suspension, today remained inconclusive and would continue on August 30.
Sharma had yesterday claimed before the court that democratic functioning had been "stonewalled" in the assembly and due to the majority enjoyed by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
There was "bias and illegality" in the way he was suspended from the assembly and prescribed procedures were not followed, he had alleged.
The Delhi government had earlier alleged that the BJP MLA in the past too had engaged in "immoral, violent and appalling behaviour", while opposing the maintainability of Sharma's plea challenging his suspension.
Referring to a report of an Ethics Committee of the Delhi assembly, the government had said that Sharma was given chances to express regret on his remarks but had refused.
The Ethics Committee had earlier "unanimously" recommended stripping Sharma of his assembly membership for his remarks against Lamba and being "unrepentant" about it.
Sharma had earlier said "my intention was not to hurt Lamba as she is like my sister, but if she felt offended I express regret over it".
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