BJP, AAP face off in Delhi Assembly as phansi ghar row flares up

The Delhi Assembly witnessed excessive drama on Wednesday (August 6, 2025) because the BJP and AAP sparred over the so-called British-era “phansi ghar” (execution room) on its premises, resulting in the marshalling out of Leader of Opposition Atishi and different MLAs of the opposition get together amid noisy protests.

Speaker Vijender Gupta instructed the House that the construction, which was renovated and inaugurated in 2022 by then Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal as a “phansi ghar“, was really a “tiffin room” as per data. Displaying a 1912 map of the Assembly advanced, he stated there was no documentation or proof indicating that the area was used for executions.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta weighed in, accusing the earlier AAP authorities of deceptive the general public.

“I do not agree with Minister Sirsa for calling Kejriwal a fool. He was brilliant; he knew how to play with people’s sentiments. His large shirt, muffler, small car, pen worth two rupees, and even his cough, everything had a purpose. He believed he was the heir to Bhagat Singh’s legacy,” she stated.

The Chief Minister stated she had visited the so-called “phansi ghar” and located the claims baseless.

“The area is so slim that an individual would cling to the pillar and refuse to be hanged. No proof or doc has been offered by the opposition to assist their declare.

“I demand an inquiry and recovery of the ₹1 crore spent on (renovating) this structure. This bundle of lies should be removed from the Assembly premises,” she stated.

Minister Kapil Mishra launched a scathing assault on the AAP, saying, “Demystifying the ‘phansi ghar‘ claim by the Speaker will restore the dignity of the Assembly.”

“The AAP authorities shredded democratic traditions. They created a faux ‘phansi ghar’ by placing sneakers and garments there, spending crores of rupees. They insulted our freedom fighters and tampered with historical past for petty beneficial properties.”

AAP MLA Sanjeev Jha defended the declare and stated a number of such execution rooms constructed through the British period have been by no means formally documented.

“This ‘phansi ghar‘ was made by the Britishers. Many historians have noted that not all hangings were recorded. There are also varying views among historians about where Bhagat Singh threw the bomb — in this building or Parliament,” he stated.

Mr. Jha identified that, based on the 1912 map, the one double-storey construction on the premises was the one recognized because the “phansi ghar“.

He urged the federal government at hand over the fabric and website to the Archaeological Survey of India for correct investigation. “Why are we asking the British Parliament for proof? Why would they document their atrocities?” Mr. Jha posed.

Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa stated the declare was “proof that Delhi was ruled by an uneducated Chief Minister”.

“Nobody from the freedom movement era, including Babasaheb Ambedkar, objected to any such use of this site. The shaft in the room is just 2.5 feet wide, and the rope used was for a service lift — it couldn’t have been used for hangings,” he stated.

Speaker Vijender Gupta stated the House would take motion on the matter on Thursday (August 6, 2025).