AAP seeks OP Sharma’s ouster from Delhi Assembly

BJP: Government trying to supress our MLAs

The Aam Aadmi Party on Wednesday scaled up its attack on BJP MLA O.P. Sharma for his derogatory remarks against party MLA Alka Lamba and demanded his ouster from the Delhi Assembly, saying its women legislators will abstain from the House proceedings till his expulsion.

The ruling party also demanded stringent action against Mr Sharma for the “unparliamentary language” used against Ms Lamba. The party’s women’s wing also staged a protest outside Mr Sharma’s residence.

“It is shameful that the Assembly has such elected MLAs. Does the BJP want such a nation where women are treated like this The BJP should clarify its stand whether it is with Mr Sharma or it will take action against him,” deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia said at a press conference, which was also addressed by AAP’s women MLAs, including Ms Lamba.

“We have requested the deputy CM that until Mr Sharma remains in the House, we will not attend the proceedings,” AAP’s legislator from Palam, Bhavna Gaur, said. Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel on Tuesday had suspended Mr Sharma till Thursday for using derogatory language against the Chandni Chowk MLA during a discussion on night shelters.

“This is not the first time that Mr Sharma has made such comments. He used the same language for me earlier too and also repeated the same behaviour before the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW). Despite repeated efforts, no enquiry has unfortunately been able to progress. When the issue of night shelters and drugs was being discussed yesterday (Tuesday) in the Assembly, deviating from the topic O.P. Sharma pointed fingers at me and made derogatory remarks. This is not only my fight. This is every woman’s fight against bad treatment towards them by a few members of the society,” she added.

Delhi Assembly deputy speaker Bandana Kumari said, “O.P. Sharma did not abuse Alka Lambaji alone, but also the women who work in night shift. His statement reflects the mentality of the party.”

Thanking the party for its support, Ms Lamba added, “I am glad that the Speaker took serious note of Mr Sharma’s comments. The chief minister also expressed shock on the same.”

She said the use of “derogatory” words had hurt her at a personal level as well. “Apart from being a public representative, I am also a woman. I tried to hide the news from my son, but could not. He is 18 years old.”

Escalating its attack on the BJP and Mr Sharma, the AAP used all platforms to voice its protest. The party’s women wing staged a protest outside Mr Sharma’s residence, while its social media team launched a campaign against both the BJP and the MLA.

Meanwhile, the Delhi BJP on Wednesday accused the AAP government of trying to “suppress” its MLAs in the Delhi Assembly, adding that the party will take “strict” action against Mr Sharma if he was found “guilty” of saying anything derogatory against the ruling party’s woman legislator.