BJP and AAP spar over Question Hour

New Delhi: The opening day of the Delhi Assembly’s Monsoon Session witnessed sharp exchanges between the ruling BJP and opposition AAP over the absence of Question Hour, before the House took up issues including healthcare, food safety, O-Zone colonies, illegal guest houses and AI-enabled proceedings.

AAP legislators accused the BJP government of avoiding scrutiny. Burari MLA Sanjeev Jha claimed that in nearly 20 months in power, the BJP had not held a single Question Hour, denying MLAs an opportunity to seek answers on public issues.

PWD Minister Parvesh Verma hit back, saying AAP had no moral ground to raise the issue. He said the previous government held 74 sittings in five years but only nine Question Hour sessions. He also accused AAP of spreading misinformation and pointed to Leader of Opposition Atishi’s absence from the House.

Minister Kapil Mishra also criticised AAP, saying Question Hour had rarely functioned during its tenure and questioning the seriousness of the opposition.

On food safety, AAP MLA Jarnail Singh raised concerns over widespread adulteration and urged strict action. He also sought implementation of CBSE guidelines restricting junk food in schools.

Healthcare was another key concern. AAP MLA Mohammad Ale Iqbal highlighted inadequate facilities at LNJP and G B Pant hospitals, particularly a shortage of ventilators. He sought stronger infrastructure and alleged that security personnel often misbehaved with patients and attendants.

The House also debated the O-Zone issue affecting nearly 30 lakh residents. Jha cited the demolition of a widow’s 25-square-yard house in Karawal Nagar and sought legal protection for residents. BJP MLA Mohan Singh Bisht questioned why the previous AAP government had not filed affidavits to protect them. Mishra said the government would not allow houses to be demolished and referred to discussions involving the LG and Cabinet. He also cited the PM-UDAY scheme for unauthorised colonies.

The Assembly announced a trial of the Bhashini AI-powered live transcription and translation system to make proceedings more efficient and multilingual. Speaker Vijender Gupta said the technology, part of the National Language Translation Mission, would improve accessibility.

BJP MLA Harish Khurana also flagged illegal OYO-style guest houses in Moti Nagar and elsewhere, alleging violations of licensing and fire-safety norms. He sought action over parking, law-and-order

and safety concerns.