Flag hoisting on Delhi's Independence Day: Arvind Kejriwal chose Atishi (L) to unfurl the flag (File Photos)
New Delhi:
Delhi Home Minister Kailash Gahlot has been chosen by Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena to unfurl the national flag during the Delhi government's Independence Day celebrations on Thursday.
Mr Gahlot will be doing this while Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who normally leads the celebrations, remains in jail after being arrested by the CBI in the alleged liquor policy case.
Mr Gahlot's choice will fan the flames of conflict between Mr Saxena and the ruling Aam Aadmi Party after Mr Kejriwal wrote to the LG asking Education Minister Atishi to do the honours in his absence. However, Mr Saxena immediately declared Mr Kejriwal's appointment “null and void”.
In a brief statement issued on Tuesday evening, Saxena's office said Gahlot had been nominated as the Delhi Police “is responsible for the ceremonial parade after the unfurling of the national flag” and that “police matters have been assigned to the Ministry of Home Affairs”.
“In view of the above, the Lt Governor is pleased to nominate Home Minister Kailash Gahlot to unfurl the national flag during the state-level Independence Day celebrations…” Mr Saxena said.
“Kejriwal's decision is legally invalid”
Earlier, Arvind Kejriwal had written to Mr Saxena to formally convey his choice. However, Mr Saxena's office stated that it had not received any communication.
READ | Kejriwal says Atishi will hoist tricolour at Delhi I-Day event
Prison authorities later told the Chief Minister that his letter was a “misuse of privileges” granted to him under the Delhi Prison Rules and hence was not sent to the Lieutenant Governor. Mr. Kejriwal has been advised to “desist from such impermissible activities” or privileges will be curtailed, reports said.
READ | Row over Kejriwal's letter to VK Saxena on flag hoisting on I-Day
To make matters more bearable, the Delhi General Administrative Department (GAD), which comes under the Lieutenant Governor, also said that the Prime Minister's directive was “legally invalid and cannot be implemented”.
The GAD further stated that Independence Day and Republic Day are national events with “supreme constitutional sanctity” and any “deviation” would “undermine their sanctity”.
AAP vs Lt Governor at Flag Hoisting
Atishi's rejection triggered a fresh political spat between the AAP and Mr Saxena, who is the Centre's representative in the national capital. The ruling party criticised the bloc for “petty politics”.
It also prompted fierce opposition from former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, who was released on bail last week after serving nearly 18 months in jail for alleged liquor scams.
READ | Sisodia's 'Sukesh' parallels Delhi LG's slapping amid flag hoist row
“I read in the newspaper… when a fraudster (I am referring to Sukesh Chandrashekar, who has written open letters to AAP leaders including Mr Kejriwa) writes a letter, the jail administration sends it to the LG’s office… but when the Delhi Chief Minister writes…”
Meanwhile, Atishi has accused Mr Saxena of trying to stop an elected government. “What can be a bigger dictatorship than this? We have to see whether the BJP stands for democracy or dictatorship?” she asked.
Kejriwal in jail
Mr Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in March, weeks before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Both he and the AAP have dismissed corruption charges, alleging a pre-election conspiracy. He was granted bail, but that was no longer relevant as the CBI had already arrested him by then.
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