After Arvind Kejriwal selected Atishi to fill in for him, the decision to select Kailash Gahlot will stoke tensions between the AAP and VK Saxena.
Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena of Delhi has selected Kailash Gahlot, the home minister of Delhi, to raise the national flag on Thursday during the government’s Independence Day celebration.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who would typically spearhead festivities, is still detained by the CBI in connection with an alleged liquor policy case, so Mr. Gahlot will carry out the celebrations in his place.
Mr. Saxena and the ruling Aam Aadmi Party are at odds, and Mr. Gahlot’s selection will exacerbate things. Mr. Kejriwal wrote to the LG to say that Education Minister Atishi would do the honors in his absence. But Mr. Saxena called Mr. Kejriwal’s instruction “invalid” right away.
Mr. Gahlot was nominated because Delhi Police “is responsible for the ceremonial march-past parade after unfurling of the national flag,” and “matters related to (the) police have been assigned to the Home Department,” according to a brief statement released by Mr. Saxena’s office on Tuesday evening.
“In view of the above, Lieutenant Governor is pleased to nominate Home Minister Kailash Gahlot to unfurl the national flag at the state-level Independence Day celebrations…” stated Mr. Saxena.
“Kejriwal’s Decision Legally Invalid”
Arvind Kejriwal had previously informed Mr. Saxena in writing of his decision. On the other hand, Mr. Saxena’s office stated that it never received any correspondence.
The Chief Minister was later informed by jail officials that his letter was not sent to the Lieutenant Governor because it constituted a “abuse of privileges” that were granted to him under the Delhi Prison Rules. According to reports, Mr. Kejriwal has been told to “desist from any such impermissible activity” or face having his privileges reduced.
The Lieutenant Governor of Delhi’s General Administration Department, or GAD, further declared that the Chief Minister’s directive is “legally invalid and can’t be acted upon” as a precaution.
The GAD went on to say that any “deviation” from Independence Day and Republic Day would “undermine its sanctity” as national holidays with “supreme Constitutional sanctity.”
AAP Vs Lt Governor On Flag Hoisting
The AAP and Mr. Saxena, the center’s representative in the nation’s capital, got into yet another political spat over Atishi’s rejection. The block was denounced by the ruling party as “petty politics”.
Ex-Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who was last week released on bail following nearly eighteen months in jail for the alleged liquor policy scam, also took a strong stance in response to it.
“I read in the papers… when a conman (referring to Sukesh Chandrashekar, who has written open letters targeting AAP leaders, including Mr Kejriwa) writes a letter, jail administration duly submits it to LG’s office… but when the Delhi Chief Minister writes…”
Meanwhile, Atishi has charged Mr. Saxena with impeding the election of a government. “Is there any dictatorship more egregious than this one? We need to find out if the BJP supports democracy or tyranny,” the woman questioned.
Kejriwal In Jail
A few weeks prior to the 2024 Lok Sabha election, in March, Mr. Kejriwal was taken into custody by the Enforcement Directorate. He has denied the corruption allegations and asserted a pre-election conspiracy, as has the AAP. Although he was granted bail, it was meaningless because the CBI had already taken him into custody.
