Speaker Marshalls 8 Opposition MLAs Out of Delhi Assembly Over Rice Scam Protest

Delhi Legislative Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta marshalled eight opposition MLAs out of the House on Tuesday after they sought an urgent discussion on alleged large-scale irregularities in the distribution of subsidised foodgrains. The demand in the Delhi Legislative Assembly followed allegations raised by AAP Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj regarding an alleged Rs 22,000-crore scam involving subsidised rice meant for the city's poor.

During the Assembly session, the opposition's protest escalated when an MLA allegedly threw rice towards officials and members present in the House. Delhi minister and BJP national secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa strongly criticised the opposition's conduct, stating that the act was inappropriate and amounted to contempt of the House. Speaker Vijender Gupta also censured the action, calling it entirely inappropriate and unacceptable.

The BJP-led Delhi government rejected the corruption allegations made by the opposition. The controversy follows statements made by Bharadwaj on Sunday, in which he alleged that a corporation based in Assam and the Delhi government had formally approached the Food Corporation of India (FCI) to request heavily subsidised rice.

Bharadwaj claimed that 31,000 metric tonnes of rice per week was sought for distribution among poor people in Delhi. He alleged that this proposed arrangement could have resulted in the diversion of subsidised foodgrain, prompting opposition members to push for an immediate discussion on the issue inside the Assembly.