: A day after his controversial remark on AAP legislator Alka Lamba, BJP MLA O.P. Shamra refused to apologise and instead alleged that the Arvind Kejriwal-government was trying to “suppress” the Opposition. The BJP, however, maintained that the party would take “strict action” against Mr Sharma if he was found “guilty” of saying anything derogatory.
MLA from Vishwas Nagar, Mr. Sharma claimed he did not say anything derogatory against Ms. Lamba. “I did not say anything wrong. Twice she (Alka Lamba) tried to slap me and accused me of being a drug peddler. I have all the respect for women as mothers, sisters and daughters. I don’t need lessons of respecting women from anyone,” he said.
On Tuesday, Mr. Sharma was suspended from the Delhi Assembly for two days by Speaker Ram Niwas Goel for his “derogatory” words against the Chandni Chowk MLA, Alka Lamba.
Mr. Sharma also went on to call Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal a “Ravana”. “Kejriwal is like a Ravana, who keeps lying throughout the day. He doesn’t know how to govern a state. He always tries to give wrong directions to the issues. I won’t apologise,” he said.
Speaking on the issue, Delhi BJP Chief Satish Upadhyay called the suspension a move to suppress the three BJP MLAs in the Assembly. “Whatever happened in Delhi Assembly is in public domain for everyone to see. Still, I am in a position to take strict action against Mr. Sharma if he is found guilty, although I believe he has done nothing wrong,” she said.
He further said that the incident was an attempt by AAP government to divert public attention from recent incidents including Kejriwal’s hug with Lalu Prasad, charges of corruption and violence against its MLAs and the Bills to be tabled in the Assembly.
“I called Mr. Sharma after the turmoil and sought his explanation. I think there is nothing wrong in the context in which he used the so-called derogatory words. Rather it was AAP MLAs including Alka Lamba who abused him,” Mr. Upadhayay said.
The party has also planned a demonstration where it claims it will “expose” the AAP government’s “hypocrisy” on the issue of discrimination against women.
