AAP candidates pledge not to jump into well of Parliament

In typical AAP style, three Aam Aadmi Party candidates from the city today took a unique oath before a veteran Gandhian to not jump into the well of Parliament, snatch microphones or use pepper sprays at MPs, if elected.

AAP candidates - former Infosys top executive V Balakrishnan (Bangalore Central), Nina Nayak (Bangalore South) and Babu Mathew (Bangalore North) - took the oath and signed an affidavit before Doreswamy at a press conference here.

The three also promised not to misuse power if elected.

Pledging that they would remain committed to the cause of local governance, they said they would not jump into the well of the House to make their points and snatch microphones and papers from other members.

The promise not to use pepper sprays at other MPs or office-bearers comes in the light of the Lok Sabha witnessing a new low in February when Congress MP from Vijayawada L Rajagopal used a can of pepper spray to protest against the tabling of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill.

Three MPs were rushed to hospital after inhaling pepper spray fumes and another fainted on the floor during the high octane protests that came as a blot on country's parliamentary history.

Commenting on the repeated attacks on Arvind Kejriwal, Balakrishnan said Kejriwal cannot be silenced with a slap and challenged both Prime Ministerial candidates from BJP and Congress for an open debate on issues.

"Violence has no place in a civilised society. People will answer that in ballot boxes. You can't silence Arvind with a slap. Instead of slapping him, why don't the so called Prime Ministerial candidates from BJP and Congress agree for an open debate on issues?" he said.

On opposition parties, he said, "BJP has really shown instability. We have seen three Chief Ministers with one going to jail, mining scam and land de-notification scam in five years of their rule in Karnataka. We want our cricketers to be accountable, but not corporators and MLAs.