In a strongly worded letter, Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta has rebuked AAP MLA and Leader of Opposition Atishi for her reckless remarks during a recent press briefing. The controversy centers on Atishi’s unsubstantiated claim that a structure within the Delhi Assembly premises was indeed a ‘gallows house’ used during British rule.
Gupta’s letter, issued on Thursday, directly addresses Atishi’s comments questioning summons issued to former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and other AAP leaders by the Assembly’s Privilege Committee. ‘If Atishi believes there was a gallows house in the Assembly, she should urge Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, Ram Niwas Goel, and Rakhi Birla to present concrete evidence before the committee,’ Gupta wrote.
The Speaker emphasized that these leaders have been summoned precisely to substantiate their claims in front of the committee. He reminded Atishi of her responsibility as a legislator and opposition leader to refrain from commenting on matters under the committee’s deliberation.
This spat traces back to 2022 when the AAP government, under Kejriwal, inaugurated a corner of the Assembly complex as a ‘gallows house,’ claiming it was the site where freedom fighters were hanged by the British. However, Gupta, upon taking office, debunked this narrative in 2025, citing historical maps from 1911-1912 and National Archives records that identify the spot as a mere ‘tiffin room.’
Gupta expressed deep disappointment over Atishi’s baseless statements, calling them disrespectful to the Assembly’s autonomy. ‘Political parties must distinguish between themselves and the independent functioning of the House and its committees,’ he noted, hinting at past misuse during AAP’s tenure.
The letter serves as a stern advisory against maligning legislative processes for short-term political gains. As the Privilege Committee proceedings continue, this exchange underscores deepening tensions between the BJP-led Assembly leadership and the AAP opposition in Delhi’s polarized political landscape.