LG criticises Kejriwal, Sisodia for absence from Rajghat, calls it blatant disrespect

New Delhi, 4 October 2022: The neverending hostility between Delhi LG Saxena and Delhi CM Kejriwal further escalated this week as LG Saxena wrote to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal condemning him and his administration for skipping the birthday celebrations of Lal Bahadur Shastri and Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat and Vijay Ghat on Sunday.

In response to this, Deputy Chief Minister, Manish Sisodia responded by claiming that the letter was written to derail party’s campaign in Gujarat.

“CM has always attended Gandhi Jayanti and Lal Bahadur Shastri Jayanti programs in the last several years. CM was in Gujarat on that day and that is why he could not attend the program. It is important to understand the reason for LG’s letter. CM addressed a very massive rally in the tribal area of Gujarat against empty chairs in PM’s program in Ahmedabad just 2 days back. PM is livid. The letter has been written by LG on PM’s instructions,” he said l.

While in letter, LG Saxena pointed the absence of Delhi leadership in the event and criticised the ignorant behaviour of the Delhi government and its leaders, stating, the fact that the President of India and Vice President of India were duly invited to the program after approval from the Chief Minister, and the Deputy Chief Minister and Minister In-charge of General Administration Dept (GAD), GNCTD, were in the loop, having initiated and approved the proposal for the same
“As the file went up to the Chief Minister, makes this absence all the more unacceptable and appalling,” he said, adding, “In accepting the invite from the Delhi Government, the President’s Secretariat had clearly apprised the Chief Minister through his Addl Secretary, that it was expected of the Chief Minister to be present at the program and receive the Hon’ble President at Vijay Ghat,” he further wrote.

The Delhi Government is officially in charge and responsible for organizing the Homage Function at Vijay Ghat, the Samadhi of Shastri Ji. The event is organized and invites are sent out by the General Administration Department (GAD), GNCTD. The Chief Minister’s name was on the invitations sent out for the event yesterday.

He further reasoned that it is customary and procedure for the Lt. Governor to be accompanied by the Chief Minister (or, in his absence, the Deputy Chief Minister) when receiving dignitaries at such national ceremonies.

“You would be aware that Article 51A of Constitution envisages that. It shall be the duty of every citizen of India ‘to abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions…’. Hon’ble President of India and Hon’ble Vice-President etc are the apex constitutional institutions of the nation and showing respect to such institutions is fundamental duty of every citizen. As host to yesterday’s function at Vijay Ghat, it was incumbent upon the Government of Delhi, as representative of public, to remain present to receive the dignitaries and see them off at departure. Prima- facie, it appears to me a serious breach of protocol and deliberate disrespect,” the letter continued.