Not Atishi, LG Saxena Nominates Delhi Home Minister Kailash Gahlot To Hoist National Flag In Arvind Kejriwal's Absence

In an amusing turn of events, Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena has nominated the capital's Home Minister, Kailash Gahlot, to hoist the national flag at the official Independence Day event at Chhatrasaal Stadium, according to a report from the Hindustan Times.

This move comes in the aftermath of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) requesting that Education Minister Atishi be nominated to hoist the tricolour on 15 August in place of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

This decision, which bypasses other senior government leaders and is widely perceived as snub towards Atishi is expected to set the stage for another round of tension 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 in the day, the Delhi government's General Administration Department (GAD) declined to implement a directive from Minister Gopal Rai, which instructed that Education Minister Atishi should hoist the national flag.

The GAD clarified that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, currently in jail on corruption charges, does not have the authority to delegate this duty to Atishi. It also noted that Kejriwal's communication to Lt. Governor VK Saxena on August 6, requesting Atishi to hoist the flag, was "not permissible" under prison rules.

After her request to hoist the flag was rejected by the LG's office, Atishi indirectly criticized VK Saxena during a press conference, referring to him as the "new viceroy."

She remarked, “Delhi’s elected government is being denied the right to unfurl the national flag. The New Viceroy has come, and he wants to unfurl the national flag. The Lieutenant Governor wants to hoist the national flag on Independence Day. It is the right of the elected government to do so.”

Previously, Kejriwal had written to the Delhi LG, stating that Atishi would hoist the tricolour on his behalf at the Independence Day event. However, the LG's office denied receiving any such communication from the Chief Minister.

Also read - India Achieves Record Defence Exports: 78 Per Cent Growth In First Quarter Of FY 2024-25