Delhi Speaker Hosts Iftar, But no Invite for L-G

New Delhi (PTI): Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel on Saturday hosted an Iftar but did not invite Lt Governor Anil Baijal amid the ongoing tussle over an issue related to legislators asking questions on reserved subjects.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, his deputy Manish Sisodia, Social Welfare Minister Rajendra Pal Gautam, Environment Minister Imran Hussain and party legislators attended the Iftar organised on the premises of the Delhi Assembly.

BJP MLAs did not attend Goel’s event. Goel had last year invited Baijal to an Iftar, but the LG had given it a miss. “I had invited him (L-G) to an Iftar party last year, but he did not attend it.

He did not give any reason. This year, I decided not to invite him (Baijal),” the Speaker said. During the Budget Session in March this year, Goel had hit out at Baijal after the L-G communicated to him that he cannot admit questions on reserved subjects such as law and order, services and land.

Goel had slammed the Lt Governor for “his order” and worn black bands as a mark of protest. Earlier this week, the Speaker had warned officers of strict action “as per rules” if they do not provide answers to three questions -- pertaining to revenue, education, and power -- asked by legislators.

Goel had on Wednesday termed the situation an “undeclared emergency where government officers are not providing answers asked by MLAs” and had blamed Baijal for it.

“Not only the House, this is also a bigger insult to democracy... This (situation) is worse than emergency -- (this is an) undeclared emergency,” Goel said while expressing anguish over the matter.