Delhi Speaker refers CAG report leak to privileges panel

Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel on Friday referred to the Privileges Committee of the house the issue of BJP lawmaker and Leader of Opposition Vijendra Gupta allegedly disclosing an audit report on the AAP government's media advertisements.

Gupta, who leaked some parts of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report on August 24, said it claimed the Delhi government used public money for propaganda and issued advertisements outside Delhi.

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, calling this leak a "breach of privilege of the house", said he received a Comptroller and Auditor General's report on the special audit of the Delhi government's Advertisement Department on August 24 at 5.30 p.m. He said even before he received the report, it was leaked to the media.

"Vijendra Gupta, on August 24, had raised the issue of non-tabling of the CAG report in the house. Till then, we had not received the report. We got it only by 5.30 p.m. on the same day. But I was surprised that the report details were already leaked to the media before it came to me," Sisodia said.

He said the report was lying with three persons -- the CAG, the Lt. Governor of Delhi and the Delhi Finance Secretary.

"I trust the Finance Secretary as he gave me the report in a sealed envelope. Now, the question is, who gave Vijendra Gupta that report? Who leaked it to the media? Primarily, this report was supposed to be tabled in the house. Then how did it reach Gupta and the media?" Sisodia said.

"It is a breach of the house's privileges. So, there should be action against Vijendra Gupta for leaking the CAG report. I demand this matter be referred to the Privileges Committee of the assembly," Sisodia added.

In response, Speaker Goel said: "It's a very serious matter and is related to the contempt of the house. So, I refer it to the Privileges Committee."

Gupta alleged the assembly was not functioning as per the Constitution and that he was not being heard over the matter, and walked out of the house.

On August 24, Gupta walked out of the assembly and issued a statement containing certain points of the CAG report.

--IANS

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