The Delhi Legislative Assembly rejected Arvind Kejriwal’s request to live-stream the Privileges Committee proceedings over the ‘Phaansi Ghar’ issue, stating the rules mandate confidentiality and expressing surprise at the former chief minister’s claimed ignorance of the committee procedures.
NEW DELHI: The Delhi Assembly has responded to former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s request for live streaming the proceedings of the Privileges Committee, which has summoned him regarding the ‘Phaansi Ghar’ issue.
In the letter, the committee’s chairperson expressed surprise at Kejriwal’s “ignorance in this matter,” noting that he has been a member of the assembly for over ten years and has participated in several Privilege Committee sessions.
The letter from the Delhi Assembly Secretariat stated,
“I am directed by the Chairperson to inform that the proceedings of the Committee of Privileges are confidential, and the Rules of Procedure do not permit their live streaming,”
ALSO READ: Court Summons FSL Director in Arvind Kejriwal Hoarding Case
It was further mentioned that there is no precedent for the sessions of the Committee of Privileges being broadcast in Parliament or other states, a point highlighted in the letter made public on Friday.
The letter continued,
“The Chairperson has also expressed his surprise over your ignorance in this matter in spite of being a former member of this House for more than ten years, when numerous sittings of the Committee of Privileges were held but not even a single sitting was ever telecast/live streamed,”
On Tuesday, Kejriwal had written to the Privileges Committee, confirming his intention to appear before it on March 6 concerning the ‘Phansi Ghar’ matter while requesting that the proceedings be live-streamed.
The Privileges Committee is investigating the significance of a British-era ‘Phansi Ghar’ that the AAP government has replicated inside the Delhi Assembly. The AAP claims that the building contained a secret gallows during British rule, while the BJP asserts that it was merely a tiffin room.
Factual Backgrounds
The controversy began in 2022 when the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government renovated two rooms within the historic Old Delhi Secretariat complex. The AAP asserted that these rooms were British-era gallows where Indian freedom fighters had been executed during colonial times. The renovated space aimed to serve as a symbolic memorial to honor revolutionaries such as:
- Bhagat Singh
- Rajguru
- Sukhdev Thapar
ALSO READ: Delhi Police Files FIR Against Arvind Kejriwal and AAP Leaders Over Illegal Posters
During the renovation, various elements were added, including murals depicting the freedom struggle, symbolic noose ropes to replicate the alleged gallows and historical-themed artwork and installations
The renovation reportedly cost around Rs 1.4 crore and was officially inaugurated by Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia. The AAP government claimed that the purpose was to preserve historical memory and educate visitors about India’s freedom movement.
Issues and Controversies
The issue resurfaced following the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) formed the government. BJP leaders contended that:
- The rooms had never been execution chambers and were merely ordinary staff rooms, including a tiffin/dining area used by government employees.
- The exhibit was fabricated or misleading.
According to BJP legislators, the AAP government had misrepresented historical facts, misleading both the Delhi Assembly and the public. This alleged misrepresentation was deemed a potential breach of legislative privilege, leading to a referral to the Privileges Committee of the Delhi Legislative Assembly.
The committee is tasked with determining whether the Assembly was misled and a breach of privilege occurred.
As part of the investigation, notices were issued to several AAP leaders, including Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia, who were asked to justify the historical claims made during the renovation and inauguration.
Kejriwal was summoned to appear before the committee at around 3 p.m. on the scheduled day. Prior to the hearing, he requested that the proceedings be live-streamed for public viewing, but this request was denied, citing confidentiality rules governing privilege proceedings.
The Aam Aadmi Party has argued that the investigation is politically motivated, asserting that the BJP government is using it to distract from governance issues such as water shortages, Infrastructure complaints and administrative disputes in Delhi.
AAP leaders maintain that the memorial served a symbolic purpose intended to honor the freedom struggle.
In contrast, the Bharatiya Janata Party insists that historical facts were distorted, public funds were spent on creating a “fake historical exhibit” and It is essential for the Assembly to assess whether it was misled by the previous government.
FOLLOW US ON YOUTUBE FOR MORE LEGAL UPDATES
