Speaker hints at special session of House amid Atishi video clip row

Speaker Vijender Gupta said on Friday that a special session of the Assembly could be called to “protect the dignity of the House” and maintain democratic accountability.

“If required, the House will convene again to uphold its dignity and the democratic will of the people,” he said.

The Speaker’s statement follows an FIR filed by the Punjab Police against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra, who is accused of posting a “doctored” video clip of senior AAP leader Atishi about Guru Tegh Bahadur on social media.

Mr. Gupta said the Assembly Secretariat has sent a formal notice to the Director of the Forensic Science Laboratory in Punjab, asking for the report that led the Punjab Police to claim the video was “doctored”.

Meanwhile, AAP chief whip Sanjeev Jha wrote to the Speaker, asking for breach of privilege action against Mr. Mishra for sharing the “fake” video and allegedly provoking religious sentiments.

Mr. Jha said a Jalandhar court order of immediate removal of the video from social media “exposes” how the video was used to “tarnish Ms. Atishi” by “wrongly invoking” the name of the Sikh Guru.

Earlier in the day, Mr. Gupta said that a Committee on Privileges of the Delhi Assembly has issued a notice to Ms. Atishi regarding an alleged breach of privilege and has requested her to submit a written reply by January 19.

He expressed concern over “attempts to undermine constitutional institutions” and reiterated that the Assembly will not tolerate any effort to obstruct investigation, interfere with scientific processes, or weaken the authority of the House.