Delhi Legislative Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta fired off a pointed letter to AAP’s Atishi on Thursday, taking her to task for what he termed ‘groundless and irresponsible’ statements about a supposed ‘gallows house’ in the Assembly premises.
During a press conference, Atishi had defended summons issued to AAP heavyweights including Arvind Kejriwal by alleging the existence of a historical execution site within the complex. Gupta dismissed this outright, challenging her to produce evidence through the summoned leaders at the Privilege Committee hearings.
‘Tell Kejriwal, Sisodia, Goel, and Birla to bring solid proof to the committee they’ve been summoned to,’ the Speaker urged in his missive. He underscored the separation between party politics and the Assembly’s independent committees, a distinction he suggested Atishi might be unaccustomed to after years of AAP dominance.
The roots of this dispute lie in a 2022 AAP initiative where Kejriwal unveiled the site as a memorial to hanged freedom fighters. Fast-forward to 2025, and Gupta’s investigation—backed by archival maps and records—revealed it as nothing more than a staff tiffin room from the British era, with no mention of gallows.
Expressing frustration, Gupta lamented the opposition’s tendency to undermine institutional processes for political mileage. As Leader of Opposition, Atishi owes it to her position to uphold decorum, especially on sub-judice matters, he advised.
This public admonition highlights the ongoing power struggle in Delhi’s Assembly, where BJP asserts control over procedures long criticized for partisanship under AAP rule. With committee hearings looming, Atishi’s response could shape the narrative around historical accuracy and legislative privilege.