New Delhi, March 6 Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who appeared before the Assembly's Privileges Committee on Friday over the 'Phansi Ghar' row, has accused the BJP government of "insulting freedom fighters" by trying to prove that the disputed structure was actually a "tiffin room".
Leader of the Opposition Atishi, former Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel, and ex-deputy Speaker Rakhi Birla also appeared before the Privileges Committee to present their versions on the authenticity of the 'Phansi Ghar', inaugurated by then-Chief Minister Kejriwal on August 9, 2022, within the Assembly premises.
However, former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia did not appear before the Committee despite having agreed earlier, a statement issued by the Delhi Assembly said.
"In 2022, then-Speaker Ram Niwas Goel discovered that in one corner of this building, there was a 'Phansi Ghar' where freedom fighters were hanged. He called me, as I was the Chief Minister, and said that 'we should open it for tourists'," Kejriwal told reporters on the Assembly premises.
"I inaugurated it, but since the BJP came to power, they have been trying to prove that it was not a 'Phansi Ghar' but a 'tiffin room'. I believe there could be no greater insult to freedom fighters than this," Kejriwal told reporters on the Assembly premises.
"The BJP only wants to do politics. Is this the only issue left in Delhi? People of Delhi are upset, they are remembering the AAP government," Kejriwal claimed.
The 'Phansi Ghar' (execution room) row is a dispute between the AAP and the BJP over a renovated section in the Delhi Assembly, which the AAP claims is a British-era gallows chamber, while the BJP claims it was a tiffin room.
After the BJP came to power in Delhi last February, Speaker Vijender Gupta told the House that the British-era structure, which was renovated and inaugurated in 2022 by Kejriwal, was actually a tiffin room.
Showing a 1912 map of the Assembly complex, Gupta said there were no documents or evidence indicating that the space was used for executions, and referred the matter to the Committee of Privileges for examination.
Coming down heavily on the BJP government in Delhi, Kejriwal claimed people are receiving electricity bills worth thousands of rupees, coupled with power cuts, while "there is chaos everywhere".
"I would gladly share my experience (of running government in Delhi). It does not matter to me which party is in power; I only want Delhi to function well," Kejriwal said.
As the committee proceedings were underway, several AAP workers staged a protest outside the Assembly complex, raising slogans alleging that the entire exercise was meant to defame Kejriwal.
On the other hand, AAP sources claimed that Delhi Police stopped Kejriwal's personal security officer outside the Assembly, while the security vehicle accompanying him was also not allowed.
They also expressed displeasure after Kejriwal’s request for live-streaming the proceedings was turned down by the Assembly Secretariat.
Attacking the AAP, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said, “It is unfortunate that even after being in power for 11 years, AAP leaders do not know that according to Assembly rules, the proceedings of the Privileges Committee are confidential and cannot be streamed."
Sachdeva also claimed that Kejriwal failed to present any facts or arguments before the committee to prove the existence of a ‘Phansi Ghar’ in the Old Secretariat complex.
AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj, meanwhile, claimed that over the past 10 years, several Assembly committees were formed, and whenever people were invited to appear before them, they usually came along with one or two assistants.
“The proceedings were open, and mediapersons were also invited. So, it was surprising that the BJP appeared hesitant about live-streaming the proceedings now. Kejriwal came for discussions, and he had no hesitation in speaking in front of the media,” Bharadwaj said.
The AAP leader added that he never heard or saw any Assembly committee summoning a former speaker or an ex-chief minister, calling the move "absurd".
“It was strange that the person summoned was not nervous and was ready to answer all the questions. He only sought that the proceedings be live-streamed for the sake of transparency, but those who summoned him seemed uneasy.
“If the BJP has nothing to hide, it should allow live-streaming or at least permit journalists to be present at the proceedings,” Bharadwaj said.
Earlier in the day, the Delhi Assembly wrote to Kejriwal, declining his request to live-stream the committee proceedings on Friday.