Privilege Committee Issues Notices To Kejriwal, Sisodia, And Two Other AAP Leaders

New Delhi: Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and other prominent AAP leaders, including former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, have been summoned by the Committee of Privileges of the Delhi Assembly. The committee has directed the four AAP leaders, also including former Speaker Ram Niwas Goel and Rakhi Birlan them to appear before the committee on November 13th. The Committee of Privileges' move has reignited another political face-off between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Delhi. 

According to reports, the notice has been issued over the controversy surrounding the alleged ‘Phansi Ghar’ or execution chamber, which was renovated and inaugurated by Kejriwal in 2022 as a memorial to freedom fighters. However, the BJP has disputed the existence of any gallows, claiming that it was merely a colonial-era lift shaft used for delivering food. The issue has led both sides to trade accusations and counter-accusations.

Kejriwal Inaugurated ‘Phansi Ghar’ In 2022 In The Assembly Complex

As per the sources, the committee has asked Kejriwal, Sisodia, and other AAP leaders to present their views on the matter, specifically regarding the authenticity of the ‘Phansi Ghar’ and the circumstances surrounding its inauguration. The notice to the AAP leaders has led to a fresh round of political mudslinging, amidst a raging controversy over the 'Phansi Ghar' (execution chamber) claim made by the previous AAP government. 

The controversy surrounds a room in the Assembly complex, which was inaugurated as a 'Phansi Ghar' by Kejriwal in 2022, with much fanfare. However, the current Speaker Vijender Gupta revealed during the Monsoon session that the room was originally a ‘tiffin room’, and there was no evidence to support the claim that it was used for executions. Vijendra Gupta presented a 1912 map of the Assembly complex, which showed no indication of the room being used for such purposes.

The matter was referred to a nine-member Committee of Privileges, headed by BJP MLA Pradyumn Singh Rajput, for detailed examination and report. The committee has now summoned Kejriwal, Sisodia, and Ram Niwas Goel to appear before it, along with former Deputy Speaker Rakhi Birla, who attended the inauguration.

The BJP has demanded that Kejriwal apologise for misleading the House over the issue, while the AAP has countered that MLAs are not qualified to determine historical authenticity and that experts should handle such matters. The AAP has accused the BJP-led Delhi government of weaponising the Privileges Committee for political vendetta.