No politics over invitations: Speaker

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, December 13

Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel on Thursday rubbished the allegations made by the oppositions BJP and Congress of "politicisation of constitutional bodies and celebrations connections".

Speaker Goel had invited BJP veteran former Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani as chief guest of the silver jubilee celebrations of the Delhi Assembly- a move that prompted the BJP to criticise the AAP government accusing it of indulging in "petty" politics.

Yesterday Advani, who last week accepted the invitation, yesterday declined the invitation to attend the event.

"There is no politics involved in the invitations for the silver jubilee event. He (Advani) being the first chairperson of the erstwhile Delhi Metropolitan Council (1966-70) was invited. Though he had confirmed his presence last week, yesterday his PA called up to inform that he would not be able to attend due to some person reasons," Geol told The Tribune.

The Speaker said, "Advani ji being a very senior politician, I personally met to invite him. Invitations to all previous members have been sent and calling up personally to all is practically not possible."

Cong to boycott function

The Delhi Congress has decided to “boycott” the Silver Jubilee as the event is being politicised, said party state chief Ajay Makan.

He said such historic and democratic celebrations are always “apolitical”. A ‘celebration committee’, constituting representatives of all political parties, which have been a part of its 25-year history, should have been constituted. “Sheila Dikshit as former CM for 15 out of 25 years in the same Assembly should have been called respectfully by the present Chief Minister or Speaker, at least, over phone, if not personally. The same should have been followed for all former Speakers and CMs”, he said.