New Delhi: Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has nominated Home Minister Kailash Gahlot to hoist the national flag at the official Independence Day event at Chhatrasaal Stadium, officials at the Raj Niwas confirmed.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had earlier requested that Education Minister Atishi hoist the tricolour on August 15, replacing Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is currently jailed on corruption charges. The Lieutenant Governor’s decision to select Gahlot, bypassing other senior government leaders, is likely to heighten tensions between the AAP government and the LG Secretariat.
In a written communication to Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar, LG’s secretary Ashish Kundra stated, “The Lieutenant Governor is pleased to nominate Minister (Home), GNCTD, Kailash Gahlot to unfurl the National Flag at the State level Independence Day celebrations at Chhatrasaal Stadium. Necessary arrangements may be made accordingly.”
Earlier, the Delhi government’s General Administration Department (GAD) refused to implement a directive from Department Minister Gopal Rai, which suggested that Education Minister Atishi should host the national flag. The GAD clarified that Chief Minister Kejriwal, due to his incarceration, cannot authorize Atishi to hoist the flag on his behalf. The GAD also deemed Kejriwal’s communication to LG Saxena on August 6 regarding the matter as “not permissible” under prison rules.
In response to the LG’s rejection of her request, Atishi criticized Saxena during a press conference, referring to him as the “new viceroy.” She argued, “Delhi’s elected government is being denied the right to unfurl the national flag … The New Viceroy wants to unfurl the national flag … The Lieutenant Governor wants to unfurl the national flag on Independence Day. It is the right of the elected government to unfurl the national flag.”
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