New Delhi: Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta on Saturday said that notices have been issued to three top Punjab Police officers, seeking their replies within 48 hours regarding the registration of an FIR against Delhi Law Minister Kapil Mishra over a video clip of the Assembly.
The notices have been issued to Punjab’s director general of Police (DGP), special DGP (cyber crime) and the commissioner of Jalandhar police for “breach of Delhi Assembly’s privileges”, Gupta said in a press conference.
“The role of the Police Commissioner of Jalandhar in the entire episode is highly questionable and appears prima facie to be a clear case of breach of privilege of the House. A direct case of privilege violation is therefore made out against him and the House will consider it seriously,” Gupta said.
He said that the use of the video recording, which is a property of the Delhi Assembly, and the registration of the FIR based on it by Punjab Police is “unfortunate” and has hurt the dignity of the House.
Gupta said further action against the Punjab Police officers will be decided after receiving their replies.
The clip of the Assembly’s video recording was used by Delhi Law Minister Kapil Mishra and several BJP MLAs, alleging that Leader of Opposition Atishi insulted Guru Tegh Bahadur in the Assembly after a debate on Tuesday on a Delhi programme held in November last year to mark the 350th martyrdom day of the ninth Sikh Guru.
The FIR was registered by the Jalandhar Police Commissionerate against Mishra and others for uploading and circulating an “edited and doctored” video of Atishi.
The Assembly has asked for all the related documents and the forensic report, based on which Punjab Police claimed that the video was “doctored”, Gupta said. He condemned the AAP regime in Punjab, alleging “misuse” of the state police by it.
The BJP MLAs have demanded cancelling Atishi’s Assembly membership for allegedly “insulting” the Sikh Guru.
Atishi was asked to offer an apology but she refused, otherwise the matter would have ended there itself, Gupta said and warned “misuse of the House for political ambitions will not be tolerated.
The notices issued by the Delhi Assembly Secretariat stated that the House is already seized of the issue, and the video clip has been referred for forensic examination and to the Committee of Privileges.
It also conveyed the concern of the Speaker over the involvement of Punjab Police in a matter considered to fall within the privileged domain of the House, and seeks a detailed explanation along with relevant documents from the concerned authorities.
Misuse of the property of the House in this manner, and registration of an FIR against a minister on the basis of such material, is not only unfortunate but also extremely serious and condemnable, it said.
The Speaker clarified that any recording of proceedings inside the House is the exclusive property of the Assembly and does not belong to any political party, individual, or external agency. He questioned on what basis and under what authority the FIR in this matter was registered by Punjab Police.
Describing the official recording of the House as “tampered” or “doctored” amounts to a direct attack on the dignity of the Assembly, Gupta said and added it is not merely a false allegation but appears to be a well-planned conspiracy aimed at undermining the prestige of the House and maligning constitutional institutions.
He warned that anyone found directly or indirectly involved in this conspiracy will face the strictest possible action by the House.
He reiterated that the Assembly knows how to safeguard its rights and privileges and will not compromise, at any cost, with its dignity, assets, or constitutional sanctity.
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
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