Delhi Assembly notice on Kejriwal for “open session” claims

Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal on Monday said he had received a breach of privilege notice from Delhi Assembly for saying that, if voted to power in Delhi, his party would hold an open session at the Ramlila Maidan to pass the Janlokpal Bill.

“The Assembly has served a notice for breach of privilege on me for saying I would call an open session of the House at Ramlila Maidan on December 29 to pass the Janlokpal Bill after forming the government,” Mr. Kejriwal told reporters in New Delhi.

The notice has been served on him upon a complaint by Mukesh Sharma — Uttam Nagar MLA and Parliamentary Secretary to Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit — who has alleged the AAP leader was misleading people about holding an open session of the Assembly, said Mr. Kejriwal.

Mr. Kejriwal had earlier said that after coming to power, AAP would convene an open session of Delhi Assembly on December 29 and pass Anna Hazare’s version of the Janlokpal Bill.

He claimed that before making the said statement, he had obtained legal opinion and also consulted some retired bureaucrats, who said it could be done.

“The Rules, which they have quoted in the notice, also provide a solution. All we have to do is to notify the area, and ensure that, apart from MLAs, no outsider enters the notified area,” he said.

Justifying his view for holding an open session, Mr. Kejriwal said that, “if we introduce the Janlokpal Bill in the House, then Congress and BJP MLAs would protest. But, if it’s held in open, they can’t oppose it in front of the people of Delhi.”