AAP claims 9 of its MLAs were wrongly sent notices by EC

NEW DELHI: The AAP today claimed nine of its MLAs, who never held posts of chairpersons in 'Rogi Kalyan Samitis', were wrongly sent notices by the Election Commission for allegedly holding office of profit and attacked the poll body for allowing it be used by "anti- democratic" forces.

The party also demanded action against the complainant in the case, who had also named Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel in the list of 27 MLAs in this regard. Goel had yesterday rejected the allegation.

The complainant had alleged that the post of chairperson in Rogi Kalyan Samitis in government hospitals was an office of profit and demanded that the MLAs holding these posts be disqualified.

"AAP MLAs are not being allowed to work for public welfare and are being dragged into needless controversies to confuse the public through a motivated, false and malicious campaign," the party said in a statement.

According to the The NCT of Delhi Members of Legislative Assembly Act, 1997, amended as per a government notification of September 2006, the post of chairpersons, vice chairpersons and members of RKSs are not office of profit, the party said, seeking to exonerate the rest 16 MLAs.

"It is a sad commentary on our democracy that the democratic institutions and constitutional offices which were once highly respected by all and feared by miscreants are allowing themselves to be used by anti-democratic, narrow minded, sectarian elements," it said.