From SDMC House proceedings for creating a ruckus in the meeting

South Delhi Municipal Corporation Mayor Kamaljeet Sehrawat on Wednesday suspended 12 AAP councillors from all meetings of the civic body for the next 15 days for creating a ruckus in the meeting of the House.

During the House meeting, the opposition members levelled corruption allegations against the BJP. The councillors then crowded in the Well of the House and started shouting slogans. When the situation reportedly got out of hand, the Mayor ordered the security to escort the AAP councillors outside the House. However, they refused to comply with her directions. As a result, proceedings of the House were disrupted. “It seemed like the AAP members had come prepared to cause a ruckus in the House. Papers were torn and female members were heckled. This is the lowest the AAP has stooped to,” she said. The suspensions were made as per Rule 73 of the Delhi Municipal Act.

“I am disheartened over the decision but such behaviour is uncalled for, and against the rules and traditions of the House,” she added.

Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Matiala of the AAP said voices had to be raised to bring out the alleged malfunctioning of the BJP in the municipalities.

“We have had enough of the BJP’s silencing the opposition when their misdeeds are brought to the fore. They have been threatening us behind closed doors and tying to mask their corruption. We will not stay silent when people’s money is being carelessly siphoned off,” said Matiala.

Stating that no AAP councillor had misbehaved in the House, he claimed that the BJP councillors had manhandled them. “One of our women representatives was manhandled by a BJP councillor. Instead of taking action against her own party, the Mayor has suspended us for 15 days,” he said.

Earlier in the day, the AAP alleged in a press conference that the Mayor had called Mr. Matiala to her room last week and threatened to terminate the membership of AAP councillors with the help of the Lieutenant-Governor.

“The BJP has been caught on the wrong foot by the AAP members in the SDMC... The AAP’s step to move to the cCourt has rattled the BJP and that is why they think they can silence us by threats,” said an AAP leader.