New Delhi, December 09: The Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa has accused Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of usurping his constitution rights on taking up public issues in Assembly and said that it was shameful that even an elected MLA has to move court to get works done which are concerned with public welfare.
In a letter written to the Chief Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said that it was most painful that his legitimate rights as an elected representative have been overlooked and surpassed by ignoring his letters written to him on various important issues related to the people of Delhi. He said that he was not been allowed to raise important issues in Delhi Vidhan Sabha particularly “DEMAND FOR BAN ON HOOKAH BARS IN DELHI” and his requests for house discussion under rule 54 of Delhi Legislative Assembly Rules on 04-10-2017, 09-10-2017 and 10-10-2017 were turned down.
He lamented that on the other hand, irrelevant issues on your instant have been allowed to discuss in Delhi Vidhan Sabha which has nothing to do with Delhi e.g. special session on EVM and other matters.
Sirsa said that when he did not get any response and support from Delhi Govt., he was forced to knock the door of hon’ble court to get Hookah banned in Delhi Bars and he also approached hon’ble LG of Delhi in this regard. He further said that Harsh Vardhan Delhi MP and Union Minister took up the matter with Delhi LG and Health ministry on my request. As a result of this, On May 23, 2016 Health Ministry Government of India issued an order banning Hookah Bars in Delhi. On July 17, 2017 he met Lt. Governor Delhi to get this order of the Government of India implemented in Delhi and on his orders department of State Tobacco Control issued an order on July 21, 2017 banning Hookah bars in Delhi. Not only this he along with his team served Bar Owners with the new order issued at instance of Delhi LG and handed over copies of this order to the SHOs of Delhi to get this order implemented and get Hookah Bars closed in the National Capital as per order of Government of India.
Sirsa said that It is very shameful that despite knowing the seriousness & ill-effects of HOOKAH menace, Delhi Govt. did nothing to stop this. He said that what could be more shameful for AAP government that when Hookah was banned, Health Minister- Satyendra Kumar Jain on 31-Oct, 2017 tried to take advantage by false statements/propaganda that due to his sincere efforts of Delhi Govt., it has been banned in Delhi. After taking media attention, the minister again went to sleep consequently at the behest of Delhi Govt. but Hookah is still being served in some of Delhi bars and no action has been taken by Delhi Govt.
The SAD leader said that despite several reminders by NGT court to Health Ministry to submit Delhi Government’s view on ‘Ban on Hookah Bars in Delhi’ on his petition has not been submitted till date. It was moral and legal duty of Delhi Government to act fast & foremost but squarely failed and not obeying the legal and reasonable order of Government of buying this from time to time. He urged the Chief Minister that the next date of hearing is on 12-Dec-2017 so he should issue directions to submit the report based on decision of Government of India so that Ban on Hookah Bars can become proper laws in the Public Interest.