Opposition and treasury benches attacked each other during the highly charged proceedings in the last sitting of the fourth Delhi assembly today before the battle of the ballot in November, with all BJP MLAs being removed from the House amid uproar.
The trouble began in the House when Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit was allowed by Speaker Yoganad Shastri to make a suo motu statement to brief about her government's performance in the last five years.
"Today is the last day of the fourth assembly. After this we will go to the polls. We had blessings of the people of Delhi because of which we have been elected for last 15 years," Dikshit said in her initial remarks.
As she began listing her government's achievements, Leader of Opposition V K Malhotra interrupted her and asked Speaker Yoganand Shastri under what rule Dikshit has been allowed to make a "long speech".
"This government has been most corrupt and inefficient in Delhi's history. People are struggling with back breaking prices of essential commodities and Dikshit said we have done everything possible for all sections. The government has totally failed to even provide drinking water to the people," Malhotra said.
When Dikshit continued her speech despite disruptions, all BJP legislators rose on their feet and accused her of "total failure" which was vociferously rejected by the Congress MLAs who blamed lack of work culture in BJP-ruled municipal corporations for the city's woes.
"We have been elected by people for three consecutive terms. There cannot be any bigger proof of people's support to us than this. People of Delhi are not going to be misled by BJP," the CM said.
"Have patience for two months. The situation will be clear. You will know which party will get people's mandate," Dikshit said.
When BJP legislators started shouting slogans against Dikshit, Revenue Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely moved a proposal for removing the BJP MLAs from House which was passed by voice vote following which Speaker Yoganand Shastri asked the marshals to remove them.
After removal of BJP legislators, Dikshit resumed her speech in which she said that the results of the next assembly elections are not going to be different. "We would remain on the treasury benches whereas the BJP would occupy the opposition benches again," she said.
Talking about the educational infrastructure in Delhi, Dikshit took a potshot at BJP-ruled Gujarat wondering why students from all over the country come to Delhi for higher study instead of going to places like Gujarat.
"Why the students from across the country come to Delhi for higher studies? Why they do not go to Gujarat? Because we have created better educational infrastructure," she said.
"Our government has taken so many innovative steps which were never thought of earlier. Our government has been sensitive towards all sections of people. We never faltered in our duties," she said.
