New Delhi – The Winter Session of the Delhi Assembly descended into severe Delhi Assembly chaos on Thursday as the fourth day of proceedings witnessed non-stop sloganeering, MLAs rushing into the Well of the House, and repeated adjournments that left legislative business completely paralyzed. Even as important bills and reports continued to pile up, the Delhi Assembly chaos centered around alleged remarks made by Aam Aadmi Party leader and Leader of Opposition Atishi, with Bharatiya Janata Party MLAs demanding action against her for allegedly “disrespecting Sikh gurus.”
Forensic Probe Ordered Amid Delhi Assembly Chaos
After three adjournments, meetings with senior leaders from both BJP and AAP, and representations from the parties, Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta ordered a forensic examination of a controversial video clip allegedly showing Atishi’s remarks. The Delhi Assembly chaos prompted the Speaker to send the clip to the State Forensic Science Laboratory, Delhi. “Instructions have been issued to the Assembly secretariat to provide the concerned video clip to the forensic department, and the forensic examination report has been sought within 15 days,” Gupta announced, hoping to bring clarity to the situation that has brought legislative work to a standstill.
Conflicting Claims Fuel Delhi Assembly Chaos
The Delhi Assembly chaos intensified as both parties presented conflicting narratives about the video’s authenticity. The AAP has alleged that the video clip of Atishi had been “tampered with” and claimed it had itself sought a forensic probe. Speaker Gupta noted, “Despite being repeatedly called to the House, the Leader of the Opposition, Ms Atishi, has not yet presented her version before the Assembly. Therefore, this inquiry is being conducted to ascertain the factual position.” Atishi has been absent from the House for two consecutive days during the ongoing controversy.
BJP’s Allegations in Delhi Assembly Chaos
The BJP has alleged that Atishi made “insensitive” remarks about Guru Tegh Bahadur on Tuesday after a special discussion on a Delhi government programme marking the 350th martyrdom anniversary of the Sikh guru held in November. Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said the remarks attributed to Atishi were unacceptable. “When the Assembly was paying tribute to the sacrifices made by Guru Tegh Bahadur ji and the Sahibzaade, the derogatory words are not worth using anywhere. We strongly condemn it. The public is agitated on this issue,” he stated, announcing that BJP would hold a protest outside the AAP office on Friday.
AAP’s Response to Delhi Assembly Chaos
Atishi has vehemently denied the allegations fueling the Delhi Assembly chaos, claiming she was speaking about the BJP avoiding a discussion on pollution and about its protest in the Assembly over the stray dog issue. “The BJP deliberately added a false subtitle and inserted the name of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji into it,” she said, referring to the video circulated by BJP leaders. AAP MLA and deputy leader of opposition Mukesh Ahlawat wrote to Speaker Vijender Gupta, questioning how Kapil Mishra accessed the clip, which was allegedly not part of the official Assembly record.
Thursday’s Disrupted Proceedings During Delhi Assembly Chaos
Thursday’s proceedings began on a stormy note at 11am, with BJP MLAs carrying posters rushing into the Well and demanding action against the Leader of Opposition, including cancellation of her House membership. The Delhi Assembly chaos saw AAP MLAs also raising slogans from opposition benches, demanding the resignation of BJP leader Kapil Mishra over allegations that he circulated a misleading video involving Atishi. Amid the uproar, proceedings were adjourned for 30 minutes. When the House resumed, continued protests by BJP MLAs in the Well forced another adjournment till 1pm.
Video Authentication Concerns in Delhi Assembly Chaos
The AAP legislative party demanded the full footage from Assembly cameras, in which Atishi’s statement was “clearly visible and audible.” This demand arose from concerns about the authenticity of the clip posted by Kapil Mishra. The Delhi Assembly chaos surrounding video authenticity led Speaker Gupta to formally direct that the video be sent for forensic examination and also refer the matter to the privileges committee, hoping that scientific analysis would resolve the contentious issue.
Legislative Work Suffers Due to Delhi Assembly Chaos
With another day lost to disruptions, the winter session’s legislative agenda has been significantly pushed back. The Delhi Assembly chaos has prevented crucial legislative work from being conducted. The session, which began on January 5, was originally scheduled to conclude on Thursday. However, cabinet minister Parvesh Verma urged the Speaker to extend the sitting by a day, a request that was accepted. Little legislative work has been conducted over the past two days.
Mounting Pending Business Amid Delhi Assembly Chaos
Key pending business includes supplementary demands for grants for 2025-26 and the passage of the Delhi Appropriation (No. 1) Bill, 2026. At least eight Comptroller and Auditor General reports are also awaiting tabling, including state finance audit reports for 2020-21 through 2023-24, sectoral audit reports, a performance audit on children in need of care and protection, and reports on the functioning of the Delhi Jal Board and several higher education institutions. According to the list of business, three bills remain pending for passage: The Court Fees (Delhi Amendment) Bill, 2026; The Delhi Jan Vishwas (Amendment) Bill, 2026; and the Delhi Shops and Establishments (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
Future Implications of Delhi Assembly Chaos
The Delhi Assembly chaos has raised serious questions about legislative functioning and political decorum. The government has also proposed a discussion on air pollution and measures being taken to address it, but such important matters remain sidelined due to ongoing disruptions. As the forensic examination report is awaited within 15 days, the Delhi Assembly chaos continues to cast a shadow over the winter session’s effectiveness and the ability of elected representatives to conduct essential legislative business for the capital’s governance.
