The discovery of a 'hanging chamber' in the Delhi Assembly has ignited a fierce political debate. The previous Kejriwal government inaugurated a site in the assembly reportedly as a hanging chamber, which, in reality, serves as a tiffin room. Speaker Vijender Gupta claimed that there is no historical evidence of a gallows in the assembly.
Not a Gallows, But a Tiffin Room
He stated that the then Speaker from the Aam Aadmi Party showcased the place as a gallows and even inaugurated it. However, historical records from the National Archives revealed that the building, constructed in 1911, was always a tiffin room, not a gallows. Vijendra Gupta explained that food was prepared upstairs and transported downstairs via a pulley system, hence the presence of ropes and a lift.
During an assembly session, the Speaker referenced a map to debunk the claim of a tunnel from the assembly to the Red Fort. The BJP demanded a public apology from AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal for misleading the house, while AAP legislators questioned the timing of raising such an issue when the national capital faces several serious problems.
Atishi Accuses Opponents of Avoiding Core Issues
Opposition leader and former Chief Minister Atishi highlighted the misuse of taxpayers' money, asserting that important discussions on slums, schools, hospitals, and law enforcement are being overshadowed by talks about a 'hanging space.'
Delhi government minister Parvesh Verma accused the previous Kejriwal administration of twisting facts and stated that portraits of freedom fighters from the room would be removed. He claimed that the evidence presented during the assembly session proved there was never a gallows, just a lift for moving items. He vowed to restore and reveal the site's true historical identity.
The AAP Government's Discovery
In 2021, the then Speaker of the Delhi Assembly, Ram Niwas Goel, claimed to have found a hanging chamber on the premises. He noted that after breaking a wall, a site emerged where it was believed revolutionaries were hanged during the British era.
Ram Niwas Goel elaborated that the supposed hanging chamber is in a two-story building, and access is through a set of old wooden stairs that have remained shut for years. He shared that the search to uncover the gallows had been ongoing for several months.
