The controversy over hoisting the flag on Independence Day in the national capital, Delhi, continues to escalate. With the state's Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal currently in jail, he had selected Minister Atishi to hoist the flag, but the Lieutenant Governor (LG) has intervened and stopped her. Shortly after, the LG nominated Home Minister Kailash Gehlot to hoist the national flag on August 15.
On Tuesday, Delhi government minister Atishi alleged that she was being prevented from hoisting the flag. She said, 'The elected government of Delhi is being denied the right to hoist the national flag. A new viceroy has arrived who wishes to hoist the national flag.' She further stated that the LG wants to hoist the national flag on Independence Day, which should be the right of the elected government.
Comparison of LG to Viceroy
Atishi further remarked that on August 15, we celebrate the country's independence and amplify the voice of the common people by hoisting the tricolor flag. Before 1947, the British ruled the country as per their whims. Now, by preventing the elected government of Delhi from hoisting the flag, it feels like a new viceroy has taken over.
'Officials Not Following CM's Orders'
Atishi mentioned, "The elected government and the Chief Minister have the right to hoist the flag on Independence Day, but since the Chief Minister is currently in judicial custody, he asked me to hoist it as a minister. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal wrote a letter and ordered that as a minister, I should hoist the flag on August 15, but the officials refused to comply with this order."
It is to be noted that CM Kejriwal had issued an order from jail stating that Atishi would hoist the flag. But the LG did not approve Atishi's name and selected Kailash Gehlot instead.
Message from CM Brought by Gopal Rai
The previous day, after meeting Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at Tihar Jail on Monday, Cabinet Minister Gopal Rai from the Delhi government provided this information that Atishi would hoist the flag.
Source: aajtak
In reality, speculations were rife that Manish Sisodia, the Deputy CM, would hoist the flag on August 15 after being released from jail. But Arvind Kejriwal had initially named Atishi. He had even written a letter to the LG regarding this. After the meeting with Minister Gopal Rai, it became clear that Atishi would indeed hoist the flag on August 15.
GAD Rejects Kejriwal's Proposal
The General Administration Department (GAD) of the Delhi government rejected Kejriwal's proposal for Atishi to hoist the flag. This rejection makes it clear that Atishi will not be able to hoist the national flag during the Independence Day ceremony in Delhi. Rules were cited while rejecting this proposal. Additional Chief Secretary of GAD, Naveen Kumar Chaudhary, said, "The Chief Minister's directive is legally invalid and cannot be accepted. Jail rules do not allow it."
Event Held at Chhatrasal Stadium
Every year, on Independence Day, the Delhi government organizes an event at Chhatrasal Stadium, where the Chief Minister hoists the flag. But this time, CM Arvind Kejriwal is in jail. Hence, he authorized his Cabinet Minister Atishi to hoist the flag. However, due to the LG's non-approval, Kailash Gehlot will now hoist the flag.
