Arvind Kejriwal Faces Fresh Trouble: Delhi Assembly Secretariat Seeks Response on ‘Gallows Room’ Controversy

New Delhi: The Delhi Assembly Secretariat has written to former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and former Assembly Speaker Ramniwas Goel, seeking their response regarding the controversial ‘Gallows Room’ issue. The move follows the findings of the Privileges Committee, which stated that Kejriwal, Goel, former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, and former Deputy Speaker Rakhi Bidlan deliberately failed to appear before the committee, amounting to contempt of the House.

Controversy Dates Back to Last Year

The issue originated when Kejriwal, during his tenure as CM, inaugurated a room in the British-era Delhi Assembly building on 9 August 2022, claiming it to be a ‘Gallows Room.’ After the BJP came to power last year, the matter was raised in the Assembly. Assembly Speaker Vijendra Gupta clarified that the room in question was actually a tiffin room used for food distribution, not a gallows.

Using a 2011 architectural map of the Assembly building, the Speaker confirmed the room’s true purpose. BJP has demanded an apology from Kejriwal, alleging that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) misled the public with false claims during its previous tenure. The case was referred to the Privileges Committee, which presented its report in the Assembly on 6 January.

Assembly Approves Motion for Attendance

The Assembly passed a motion directing Kejriwal and other AAP leaders to appear before the committee to explain their absence at hearings held on 13 and 20 November last year and to provide any relevant documents regarding the ‘Gallows Room’ claims. The Assembly also authorized Speaker Gupta to take necessary action to ensure the attendance of AAP leaders before the Privileges Committee.

This latest development adds to the political pressure on Kejriwal and his party, as the Assembly seeks accountability over what has been described as misrepresentation of facts to the public.