Rebel AAP MLAs seek more time from speaker to reply on charge under anti-defection law

Rebel AAP legislators Devender Sehrawat and Anil Bajpai, facing charge of defection to BJP, presented their written submissions to the secretary of the Delhi Assembly on Monday and sought deferment of personal hearing before the Speaker on the issue.

The hearing is scheduled to take place on Tuesday.

Notices were issued to the duo on a petition of AAP MLA and party spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj accusing them of joining the BJP ahead of recent Lok Sabha polls.

In their replies, Sehrawat and Bajpai said that the newspaper clippings annexed with Bhardwaj's petition were "illegible" and demanded that they be provided typed and translated copies so that they are able to submit their response on the charge of defection.

"....I request you to defer the hearing on June 25 and grant me six weeks time from the date of supply of clear typed and translated copies of the petition and annexed documents," Bajpai said in his written submission to the Delhi Assembly secretary.

Citing the same reason, Sehrwat, MLA from Beejwasan Assembly constituency, sought four weeks time to furnish his reply over the charge of joining the BJP.

"The office of the Speaker acts as a tribunal as per Supreme Court laid guidelines, while deciding cases under anti-defection law and hence the documents furnished before it should be up to the standard," Sehrawat said at a press conference.

Sources, however, said that both legislators were given time of seven days, which is "sufficient to respond to the notice of Delhi Assembly Secretariat."