Latest news with #AllIndiaSpeakers'Conference
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Vexed Delhi CM Rekha Gupta says get rid of phansi-ghar signage
NEW DELHI: The 'phansi-ghar' that is not in the Delhi Assembly caused acrimonious exchanges and the marshalling out of former CM Atishi from the House on Wednesday, even as Chief Minister Rekha Gupta requested the Speaker to remove the false signage at the heart of the ruckus and blamed AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal for creating t h e misleading narrative. LoP Atishi and other AAP MLAs were marshalled out of the Assembly following a heated exchange with BJP members over the authenticity of a so-called British-era 'phansi-ghar' (execution room) on the House premises. Speaker Vijender Gupta said the structure, renovated and inaugurated in 2022 by then CM Arvind Kejriwal, was a 'tiffin room' and not a site of colonial executions. Minister Kapil Mishra accused the AAP government of 'tampering with history' by projecting a false narrative. 'They spent crores turning a tiffin room into a fake execution site,' he said. AAP MLA Sanjeev Jha, however, defended the room's historical significance, arguing that many such execution sites were never officially recorded. 'Historians have differing views on such places. In the 1912 map of this building, that is the only double-storey structure consistent with a hanging chamber,' he said. As the altercation between the treasury and opposition benches escalated, the Speaker ordered Atishi and other AAP MLAs to be removed from the House. The Speaker said 'phansi-ghar' was a tiffin room and there was a misconception that it was used to hang freedom fighters during British rule. The CM urged the Speaker to immediately remove the misleading signage referencing the 'phansi-ghar' from the Assembly premises emphasising that this rectification is especially critical ahead of the All India Speakers' Conference scheduled for August 24–25. She alleged that Kejriwal had arbitrarily declared a portion of the Assembly premises as a gallows site without any documentary evidence or historical authenticity in an attempt to gain public sympathy.
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
All-India speakers' conference to be held in capital on August 24-25: CM Rekha Gupta
NEW DELHI: CM Rekha Gupta on Wednesday announced that the capital will host the 'All India Speakers' Conference' on August 24 and 25, 2025. The event will take place at the Delhi Legislative Assembly and is expected to witness the participation of around 60 Speakers and Deputy Speakers from State Legislative Assemblies and Legislative Councils across the country. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said that all invited dignitaries will be accorded the status of 'State Guests' and special arrangements are being made in their honour. She emphasised that the government is committed to ensuring a warm welcome for all delegates. The Delhi Legislative Assembly Secretariat has been entrusted with the responsibility of coordinating and facilitating all protocol arrangements from the arrival of the guests in Delhi to their departure. This includes arrangements for reception, accommodation, transport, and all other hospitality requirements in accordance with their official status. 'These distinguished leaders are our honoured guests and Delhi will extend to them the highest levels of respect and hospitality,' the CM said.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
'Hanging house' in assembly: Gallows remark triggers AAP-BJP face-off; CM Rekha Gupta rejects historical link; MLA flags bid to vilify Arvind Kejriwal via British lens
NEW DELHI: A structure within the main building of Delhi assembly inaugurated by then AAP govt as a British-era 'fansi ghar' (gallows chamber) will be dismantled by the current BJP dispensation, which claims it originally housed a service staircase meant to deliver tiffin to British officers. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The Kejriwal govt spent Rs 1 crore to do it up to resemble a jail - installing murals of freedom fighters, erecting symbolic prison bars and placing a couple of nooses. Ram Niwas Goel, then speaker, had claimed prisoners held in Red Fort used to be taken to this room for execution. Calling it a gross distortion of history, an insult to martyrs and a betrayal of public trust, CM Rekha Gupta, while speaking in the House Wednesday, ordered the structure be removed, an inquiry initiated, and an FIR registered. No Historical Evidence Of Gallows At Delhi Assembly Site, Says CM Kejriwal had inaugurated the so-called 'gallows chamber' along with a memorial dedicated to 'Covid warriors'. Located to the left of the assembly hall, the structure displays items purportedly belonging to British-era prisoners, along with an "original noose", offering visitors a glimpse into the country's past. CM Gupta alleged Kejriwal, in a calculated attempt to gain public sympathy, arbitrarily declared a portion of the assembly as a gallows site without any documentary or historical evidence. She said the building was constructed in 1912 and served as the venue for sessions of Imperial Legislative Council from 1913 to 1926. In contrast, the actual site of the old Delhi jail where executions used to took place, was located at what is now Maulana Azad Medical College, she said, urging current speaker Vijender Gupta to immediately remove the misleading signage referencing the 'fansi ghar' from the assembly building. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now She said this process should be completed ahead of the All India Speakers' Conference scheduled for 24-25 August so that dignitaries from across the country are not presented with a "falsified version of history" and the reputation of the Delhi Assembly is intact. During a debate over the issue, leader of opposition Atishi and some other AAP MLAs were marshalled out of the assembly following a heated exchange with BJP members. AAP MLA Sanjeev Jha defended the room's historical significance, arguing that many such execution sites were never officially recorded. "Historians have differing views on such places. In the 1912 map of this building, that is the only double-storey structure consistent with a hanging chamber," he said. Jha warned against "whitewashing British tyranny" in an attempt to target Kejriwal and urged that materials from the site be examined by ASI.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Delhi govt won't humour gallows claim, Oppn refuses to yield
In a high-voltage session of the Delhi Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, chief minister Rekha Gupta launched a stinging attack on the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government over what she alleged was a 'fabricated and disgraceful' attempt to distort history by allegedly falsely labelling a part of the Assembly complex as a 'Phansi Ghar' (execution chamber). Delhi Legislative assembly speaker Vijender Gupta led a guided media tour of the space on Wednesday, showing old blueprints from the National Archives that mark the room as a lift shaft. (Arvind Yadav/HT Photo) Gupta ordered an inquiry and a first information report to look into the matter and said that ₹1.04 crore of public funds were allegedly spent on constructing and promoting the site, and the money must be recovered. She demanded that the structure at the centre of the debate be removed before the All India Speakers' Conference, which is set to take place at the Assembly complex on August 24–25. Addressing the House, she accused former CM Arvind Kejriwal of orchestrating an elaborate political spectacle to gain public sympathy. 'There is no history, no document, no evidence that proves any part of this building ever served as a gallows. Kejriwal wore the mask of patriotism and sacrifice while misleading people with a staged drama,' Gupta said. The alleged 'Fansi Ghar' was unveiled by the AAP government in 2022. But Gupta cited historical records that show the Assembly building, constructed in 1912, served as the venue for the Imperial Legislative Council from 1913 to 1926. She said the area in question was merely a service shaft used to deliver tiffins of food to British officers and never intended or used for executions. She said the real site of Delhi Jail, where executions did take place during the British Raj, was located at the present-day Maulana Azad Medical College. 'To falsely inscribe such a claim within a constitutional institution is not just misleading, it is an insult to martyrs who actually gave their lives for the country,' she added. Gupta insisted that the structure and the signage be removed before hosting national dignitaries at the upcoming conference. 'We cannot afford to present a falsified history to the nation's lawmakers,' she said. Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta also denounced the installation, and said, 'There was never any 'Fansi Ghar' here. What we see is a colonial-era lift shaft used to deliver food. That's all.' He led a guided media tour of the space, showing old blueprints from the National Archives that mark the room as a lift shaft. He said the Assembly building, designed by British architect E Montague Thomas and built under contractor Faqir Chand, was completed in just eight months in 1912. 'The Assembly has a rich history, even Mahatma Gandhi attended three sessions here. Crores were spent promoting a false narrative that undermines this institution's legacy,' he said, holding up a April 7, 1931 edition of Hindustan Times that reported on Gandhi's visit. 'Crores of rupees were spent on this false narrative. This is not just a waste of public money. It undermines the sanctity of this institution,' he said. Meanwhile, the AAP hit back, accusing the BJP government of using the Assembly as a platform for theatrics while neglecting urgent public issues. Leader of Opposition Atishi said, 'For three days, the BJP has hijacked Assembly proceedings to obsess over a staircase. Meanwhile, rising crime, illegal demolitions, inflated school fees, and vehicle deregistration are all being ignored.' She said the BJP government was deliberately avoiding accountability and turning the Assembly into a stage for political theatre. 'If the BJP is serious about history, they should form a committee of historians and archaeologists. Not a single person here is qualified to speak on this topic. The Assembly is meant to address real issues affecting the people, not indulge in distractions,' she added. Atishi said AAP MLAs were being silenced and evicted when they tried to raise public concerns. 'Why won't this government talk about jhuggi demolitions, school fee hikes, or the registration cancellation of old vehicles? Every time we raise these matters, we are thrown out of the House,' she said. She also cited writings by Hindutva ideologue Veer Savarkar, who documented in the context of the 1857 revolt that the British had executed Indians not only in jails but also in other hidden sites like offices and school buildings. 'Despite this, the BJP seems more interested in defending colonial narratives than confronting real governance challenges,' she said. The origins of the 'Fansi Ghar' claim go back to 2021 when then Speaker Ram Niwas Goel announced the discovery of an underground tunnel connecting the Assembly with the Red Fort. In 2022, the AAP government inaugurated the alleged execution chamber, claiming it was used during British rule. Professional historians who attended Wednesday's session from the visitors' gallery also rejected the claim. Professor in the department of history with the Delhi UniversityManisha Chaudhary, said, 'The layout map from the National Archives demarcates this area as a lift. Also, structurally, for hanging a person, you have to take them to the top and make them stand on a platform before that does not seem to be there. Also, it is very unlikely that executions would be allowed in full view at a public space where elected representatives are holding discussions,' said Chaudhary. She explained that typically a 'Fansi Ghar' or execution space is located close to a jail so that the prisoners do not need to be taken far, considering the safety. 'All such places also maintain elaborate manuals and records of the hanging, details of the prisoner and the executioner, hanging orders, a doctor who confirms death and details of the officers present,' Chaudhary said.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Delhi to host all India speakers' conference on August 24–25
Delhi will host the All India Speakers' Conference on August 24 and 25 at the Delhi Legislative Assembly complex, chief minister Rekha Gupta announced on Wednesday. Delhi CM Rekha Gupta addresses during Monsoon session of Delhi legislative Assembly at Delhi Vidhansabha on Wednesday. (HT Photo) The conference is expected to see participation from around 60 speakers and deputy speakers of state legislative assemblies and legislative councils from across the country, Gupta said during Assembly proceedings. She also reiterated her demand for the removal of the controversial 'gallows room' memorial before the event. The memorial, which was inaugurated by the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in 2022, has become the centre of a political and historical dispute, with Gupta alleging it misrepresents the Assembly's legacy. 'All invited dignitaries will be accorded the status of state guests, and special arrangements are being made for them,' Gupta said, adding that the Delhi government is committed to ensuring 'a warm and dignified welcome for all delegates.' The Delhi Legislative Assembly Secretariat has been tasked with coordinating and facilitating all protocol-related responsibilities. These include reception, accommodation, transport, and other hospitality requirements 'in accordance with their official status,' the chief minister added.
