AAP did not allow debate on VAT in Assembly, says BJP

BJP today accused Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel and the AAP government of not allowing discussion on VAT in the House and then "misleading" media and people claiming that debate was held but opposition MLAs did not participate in it.
"Deputy chief minister and finance minister Manish Sisodia did not allow any debate on VAT in the House. Such important amendment bill was passed within a few seconds and they informed the media outside that they had allowed debate on this subject in the House but the opposition did not participate in it," Leader of Opposition in state Assembly Vijender Gupta today said in a press conference.

Alleging that Goel was biased against BJP MLAs, Gupta said, "the partial and doubtful conduct of the Speaker of Delhi Legislative Assembly can be seen in video recording and verified."
Delhi BJP president Satish Upadhyay said the Aam Aadmi party, which has 67 out of total 70 seats in the House, has for all three sessions during its rule tried to root out the opposition.
"After looking into the proceedings of the two regular and one special session of Assembly during the tenure of the Kejriwal government it has become clear that this government is not ready to listen to the most important pillar of democracy, the opposition party, because of their brute majority," Upadhyay said.

Gupta, Om Prakash Sharma and Jagdish Pradhan, the three BJP MLAs in state Assembly, also opposed the AAP MLAs' demand seeking hike in salaries and allowances of the Assembly members.

"We have joined politics only for public service. I am of the view that the present pay and allowances are sufficient but personally I will work on a pay of rupee one only," Sharma, MLA from Vishwas Nagar, said.
Leader of BJP Legislature Party Gupta and Pradhan supported Sharma saying they will jointly move a motion in this regard during the next session.
"We shall accept only secretarial expenses and not accept pay," they added.