"Contempt of entire House": AAP MLA slams CM Rekha Gupta's directive in Assembly

New Delhi [India], August 8 (ANI): Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)'s Chief Whip in the Delhi Assembly and Burari MLA Sanjeev Jha slammed CM Rekha Gupta's directive in the Assembly, calling it a "licence for officers to ignore elected representatives".
According to a release, he emphasised that the order--which mandates MLAs and ministers to seek the Chief Secretary's approval before calling DMs or SDMs for meetings--has "become an excuse for officers to stop taking their calls". Calling it a "direct attack on democracy" and "contempt of the House", Sanjeev Jha urged the Speaker to "intervene" and ask the government to "withdraw the order immediately".
On the fourth day of the Delhi Assembly's Monsoon Session, Sanjeev Jha stated, "A few days ago, CM Rekha Gupta issued an order stating that if any MLA or minister wants to call a DM or SDM for a meeting, they must first obtain the Chief Secretary's approval. This is not merely a matter concerning opposition or ruling party MLAs -- it concerns even ministers. This is contempt of the entire House. I have submitted a privilege notice in this regard and I hope the Speaker will accept it."
Warning of the consequences of such interference, Sanjeev Jha said, "If the executive starts trying to control the legislature in this manner, the very definition of democracy will cease to exist."
As per the release, urging the Speaker to intervene, he added, "Only you can protect us. The responsibility of safeguarding the dignity of this House lies with the Speaker. Such an order is an affront to this House. And if it is contempt of this House, then it is also contempt of the Speaker's chair."
Condemning the CM's directive, the AAP Chief Whip further added, "Any such order that seeks to undermine the legislature must be opposed. In a democracy, the people elect their representatives -- and in a democratic and constitutional setup, the people are supreme. To insult the will of the people is equivalent to insulting the Constitution."
Sanjeev Jha said, as per the release, "The bureaucracy constantly waits for opportunities to obstruct the work of elected representatives. This order from the CM proves that now, DMs and SDMs will have an excuse not to answer calls -- in fact, the DM is not taking my calls. The CM's order is wrong, and the government must withdraw it immediately." (ANI)