BJP MLA in Patiala Court Incident May Face Membership Termination

BJP MLA OP Sharma creating a ruckus in the Delhi Assembly. (Photo: PTI)

The fate of BJP MLA OP Sharma will be decided in the next session of the Delhi Assembly, with the Ethics Committee recommending stripping him of the membership for allegedly making sexist remarks against a female AAP legislator.

The committee submitted its recommendation to Speaker Ramniwas Goel on Wednesday, after investigating the matter for nearly two-and-a-half months.

Goel had suspended Sharma for the rest of the session mid-way through the winter session in November last year, for using derogatory language against AAP MLA Alka Lamba inside the House. Goel had later referred the matter to the Ethics Committee for further probe.

BJP MLA OP Sharma thrashing CPI leader Ameeque Jamai outside Patiala House court. (Photo: PTI)  

OP Sharma was asked to tender an apology for his comment directed to Lamba, “Ye toh raat bhar ghumne wali” (she’s the kind who roams around throughout the night), which he made during a debate on homeless people and night shelters.

Sharma, however, remained defiant following the incident, which led to the Ethics Committee deciding to recommend the termination of his membership. It said a final decision would be taken by the House.

Earlier this month, Sharma was arrested after being caught on camera beating a CPI activist in the Patiala House Court complex when JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar was brought to hear the sedition case against him.

(With PTI inputs)