Live reporting: Delhi Assembly rejects introduction of Jan Lokpal Bill, Congress, BJP join hands

New Delhi: The Delhi legislative assembly today refused to give leave to AAP chief minister Arvind Kejriwal to introduce the Delhi Jan Lokpal Bill. 42 members stood up against the introduction, with BJP, Congress members standing up. 27 AAP members stood up favouring the introduction.The Speaker then announced that the Delhi Jan lokpal Bill stands "not introduced". The voting took place as the culmination of an angry debate in which BJP and Congress alleged that the bill was being brought before the House despite the objections raised by the Lt Governor. Earlier, Delhi's feisty chief minister Arvind Kejriwal today introduced the Jan Lokpal Bill, 2014 inside the Assembly amidst commotion and pandemonium, despite the Lt Governor in his message to the Assembly clearly asking members not to take up the bill. Kejriwal, after introducing the bill, demanded a voting on the bill. Angry Congress and BJP members shouted in the din saying the Speaker was acting as an AAP member. Minutes earlier, the Speaker read out the Lt Governor's message which said, the bill, being a financial bill, need to be sent to the central government as per rules. The Lt Governor in his message clearly said the bill should not be taken up by the assembly as it does not have his consent.The Lt Governor asked the Speaker of Delhi Assembly not to allow the Jan Lokpal Bill to be tabled in the House. Yet, despite the LG's objection, Speaker allowed the chief minister Arvind Kejriwal to introduce the Jan Lokpal Bill.Speaker said, after placing the LG's message before the House, I have allowed the Jan Lokpal Bill to be introduced in the House. AAP leaders tymped their desks in approval. Congress leaders went up to the podium and surrounded the Speaker, angrily gesticulating at him. Congress leaders have opposed the Jan Lokpal Bill alleging chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has made fun of the Constitution of India and was trying to convert the assembly into a kangaroo court.Here is the live reporting of today's events: 6:40 pm: Assembly passes Appropriation Bill. Assembly adjourned sine die 6:38 pm: Replying to the debate on Appropriation Bill, Kejriwal makes an impassioned speech, retierating that he was ready to resign not 100 times, but 1000 times, in order to fight corruption. For Jan Lokpal Bill, I am even ready to lay down my life. Today's voting on Jan Lokpal Bill has clearly shown both BJP and Congress are hands in gloves in stalling this bill. A few days ago, our government filed FIR against Mukesh Ambani. Mukesh Ambani gives money to both BJP and Congress. That's why both these parties have joined hands to stall the Jan lokpal bill. I have taken the oath on Constitution. For Constitution I am ready to lay down my life, but I have not taken oath on Central government's rules. I am not going to obey the Central government's diktats. Kejriwal said, this is my last Assembly session here. "For lat 20 years, both the Congress and BJP were in cahoots looting the people of Delhi. The people of Delhi now know both these parties are in league, That's why when I brought the Janlokpal Bill their throne began to tremble", said Kejriwal. We have not come here to save our govt, we have come to save the country. To remove corruption, I am ready to stake the CM's chair not even 100 times, but 1000 times. Even if I lay down my life, I will consider this my fortune. I think this is my last session here", said Kejriwal and ends his speech.6:21 pm: An opposition member says, Mukhyamantriji, your heart is broken over a broken mike, but our hearts are broken after you broke the Constitution.6:15 pm: Kejriwal stands up to speak inside Assembly. Most of us who have come as first timers, naturally do not know rules. There are members here who are here for last 15 to 20 years. But I noticed some unfortunate things here. Mikes being broken, papers being torn. An MLA Shoukeen, being led to the well by another member to break the mike. It appeared he was being given training how to break mike.6:09 pm: Angry AAP workers say, "Congres BJP Bhai Bhai". One worker says, let there be fresh elections in Delhi. AAP gives a call to all its workers to come to party office. Arvind Kejriwal to announce his resignation at the party office.6:00 pm: Hundreds of AAP workers wearing caps and holding brooms chant "Congress, BJP, Hai Hai" outside AAP office. There are several autorickshaws seen on Hanuman Road. Auto drivers constitute a large chunk of AAP's constituency. A huge TV set has been installed outside the office. 5:00 pm: Kejriwal moves Appropriation Bill. Congress supports AAP members in passing bill. BJP members allege Congress is only shedding "crocodile tears"4:53 pm: Speaker announces 42 against bill, 27 in favour. He announces Jan lokpal bill is not introduced. 4:52 pm: Those against stand up. Entire Congress and BJP MLAs stand up. Manish Sisodia says, then Bill is not introduced. 4:51 pm: Those in favour stand up. Kejriwal and all AAP MLAs stand up. Manish Sisodia says, we are in favour of the introduction of bill. 4:50 pm: Entire BJP bloc stands up. Manish Sisodia calls for voting. 4:48 pm: Speaker says, if you want to give leave of the House, then decide. Speaker asks members those who are opposing introduction to stand up. Those who do not want to give leave of the House, please stand up, says the Speaker.4:44 pm: Congress leader Arvinder Singh Lovely says, Kejriwal can introduce the Bill only with the leave of the House. He requests the Speaker not to break the traditions of the House.4:42 pm: Manish Sisodia says, the debate on the Bill has started. Opposition members loudly object.4:41 pm: Harsh Vardhan says, the Speaker's act will be written in black letters. If the person sitting on the Speaker's chair does not follow the Constitution, then this House can change the Speaker.4:40 pm: Leader of Opposition Dr Harsh Vardhan reads out LG's message, saying the bill cannot be introduced as per rules. If the Speaker has doubt whether the LG's message is only a message or a direction, he should take the sense of the House. Here, a leader having 28 MLAs is the chief minister, and the one who has 32 MLAs is the leader of Opposition, yet we accept Kejriwal ,because he has taken the oath of Constitution. Kejriwal cannot disobey the Constitution now, and insult the Lt Governor. 4:35 PM: House reassembles. BJP leader Jagdish Mukhi says, this Bill cannot be introduced in the House at any cost. 4:15 pm: Leader of Opposition Dr Harsh Vardhan says, let the Kejriwal government send the Jan lokpal Bill to Lt Governor for approval, and BJP will fully support the passage of the bill. The way this bill has been introduced is unconstitutional and will not stand the test of law, says Harsh Vardhan. 3:50 pm: The Speaker adjourns the House for half an hour. 3:44 PM: There was pandemonium as Congress and BJP members opposed the introduction of Jan Lokpal Bill by chief minister Arvind Kejriwal. Opposition members shouted saying the Speaker was acting as an AAP worker. Congress MPs went up to the podium and surrounded the Speaker, even as Kejriwal challenged the Opposition to come forward and vote on the bill. One of the Congress MPs broke the Speaker's mike.3:43 pm: Amidst din, AAP government introduced Jan Lokpal Bill, 2014.3:35 pm: AAP members demand debate on LG's message, Opposition members demand voting on LG's message. 3:32 pm: The LG's message to the Speaker says: "The cabinet of govt of NCT of delhi vide its letter no 2111 dated 3rd Feb has approved the proposal of setting up a Jan Lokpal for NCT of Delhi. The cabinet approved the bill and has said it will be taken up in the Assembly for introduction on February 13. As per Section 22(3) of NCT Act, 1991, the said bill being a financial bill is to be sent to the Lt Governor,. Under Rule 55(1) of NCT rules of business, 1993, the LG is required to make prior reference to the Central Government, but as the bill is going to be introduced, I would like to mention that the said bill may not be introduced without my consent. I am sending this message to the Legislative Assembly not to consider the bill, unless it gets the consent of the Lt Governor. The message may be informed to the assembly during the current session."3:31 pm: Speaker says, let the bill be introduced, we will get the voting done. The concluding portion of the LG's message clearly says, the message may kindly be informed to the assembly.3:30 pm: All 32 BJP MLAs stand up demand "voting, voting" on LG's message. 3:29 pm: Speaker says, House can vote on it, but let the House first discuss. Opposition points out there can be no debate on LG's message.3:28 pm: Congress leader Arvinder Singh Lovely demands the LG's message be adopted by the House first. Sisodia opposes, says how can it be adopted by House without debate. Kejriwal sits down. Sisodia says, why is the opposition running away from debate. 3:26 pm: Minister Manish Sisodia requests Speaker for a debate on the Lt Governor's message for consideration. Opposition opposes his request.3:25 pm: Uproar in House as Opposition demands voting on this issue. Kejriwal stands up to speak 3:20 pm: As House reassembles, Speaker reads out the Lt Governor's message which says, the Jan Lokpal Bill must not be taken up for consideration as it does not have the consent of the Lt Governor.2:50 pm: Speaker adjourns the House for 20 minutes amidst the din. 2:47 pm: Harsh Vardhan shouts at the Speaker, this House cannot be run at your personal whims and fancies. 2:46 pm: As Congress and BJP members shout asking the Speaker to place the Lt Governor's message on Jan Lokpal Bill, the Speaker replied, I will place it before the House at my convenience. The members continued to shout. 2:37 pm: JD(U) member Shoaib Iqbal says, let govt bring Maha Lokpal, Maha Jan lokpal, whatever, we are with you, but do everything in accordance with Constitution. Let the Speaker read out the message from the Lt Governor.2:36 pm: Congress leader Haroon Yusuf also demands LG's message to Speaker be read out inside the House. Also, let the House discuss the censure motion against Somnath Bharti. 2:30 pm: Harsh Vardhan demands that the Speaker reads out the message sent by Lt Governor on Jan Lokpal Bill. Let the House also take up the censure motion against the "wrong acts" of Law Minister Somnath Bharti. Vardhan reminds the Speaker that it was 20 years ago that the BJP had brought the Lokayukta Bill, and the Lokayukta was appointed. At that time, Charti Lal Goel was the assembly speaker, Madan Lal Khurana was chief minister, and I as Law minister had moved the Lokayukta Bill, says Harsh Vardhan. 2:20 pm: Harsh Vardhan says, it seems chief minister Arvind Kejriwal does not get a good night's sleep without levelling four charges against people and telling a lie. '2:15 pm: Leader of Opposition Dr Harsh Vardhan says, Ravidas Jayanti issue should not be taken lightly. It will be an insult to the great saint. Secondly, private members' bills today have been done away with. 2:11 pm: Congress leader Arvinder Singh Lovely tells Speaker that even Parliament is on holiday today because of Ravidas Jayanti. Lovely also raises why private members' bills not allowed on Friday today. We got agenda yesterday about Janlokpal bill, but today's agenda shows the bill at point no 5. Why? Leaders of parties have not been provided copies of the Jan Lokpal Bill, says Lovely. 2:02 pm: Delhi Assembly session begins. Opposition members shout slogans. Speaker rejects privilege notice by a member seeking holiday because of Ravidas Jayanti today. 1:40 pm: AAP minister Manish Sisodia says, we will press for the Jan Lokpal Bill to be tabled today. There is nothing unconstitutional about it. Sending corrupt people to jail is constitutional. Jan Lokpal Bill is fully constitutional. Our government is not doing anything unconstitutional. Home Ministry has issued guidelines which are unconstitutional. We will try for passage of the bill. The assembly session may be extended. Jan Lokpal is our objective, and towards this we will do all that is possible. 1:30 pm: Lovely says, Kejriwal should stop misguiding the people. "We dont need certificate from kejriwal. Kejriwal had alleged Congress, BJP are hand in gloves, but there cannot be any alignment between the two", says Lovely. He alleges CM Kejriwal is in a hurry to give Rs 372 crore to certain corporates in the grants sought from Assembly. Let Kejriwal name those corporates, Lovely challenges1:20 pm: Congress leaders Haroon Yusuf and Arvinder Singh Lovely allege AAP trying to bulldoze Jan Lokpal bill in Assembly despite LG's objection. Lovely, says he has written a letter to CM Kejriwal, asking him to stop his "childlike adamant attitude" and stop from tabling the bill. "Our leader Rahul Gandhi brought consensus in Parliament and got the Lokpal bill passed." Our support to AAP government will continue, Lovely adds. 12:46 pm: PIL filed in Delhi High Court seeking permission to table Jan Lokpal Bill in assembly without Lt Governor's clearance. PIL seeks to declare Rule 55 as unconstitutional. 12:45 pm: Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia in meeting with Delhi Assembly speaker.12:30 pm: Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia leave for Delhi Assembly.