New Delhi, March 1 -- Delhi Legislative Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta has replied to the letter by Atishi in which she condemned the recent suspension of 21 opposition MLAs from the Delhi Assembly, calling it an attack on democratic value.Vijender Gupta has defended the move, citing procedural correctness and the need to uphold parliamentary decorum. As per Rule 277, point 3 (d), a member who is suspended from the service of the House is barred from entering the premises of the House and participating in the proceedings of the House and Committees. It is obvious that when a member is suspended, he is denied entry into these restricted areas, which is an established parliamentary convention.

In a detailed letter addressed to Atishi, the...