AAP and its leaders are anarchists: Delhi BJP chief

Tribune News Service

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New Delhi, August 7

The Delhi BJP criticised Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s request to have Minister Atishi hoist the national flag during the upcoming Independence Day celebrations, labelling the move as a continuation of the Aam Aadmi Party’s “anarchic” tendencies.

Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva said, “The letter written by Kejriwal to Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena regarding the flag hoisting on Independence Day proves that the AAP and its leaders were anarchists yesterday, and remain anarchists today.”

Sachdeva argued that according to the national flag protocol, only the Chief Minister is permitted to hoist the flag in the states, adding, “Perhaps the framers of the Constitution and the national flag protocol never imagined that one day there would be a stubborn Chief Minister who would not resign even after going to jail.”

Sachdeva went on to recall Kejriwal’s controversial actions from the past, saying, “The anarchic letter sent by Kejriwal to the L-G, seeking permission for Atishi to hoist the flag, brings back the horrific memories of his declaration to disrupt the Republic Day celebrations on Rajpath in 2014 by staging a sit-in protest. Kejriwal tarnished the dignity of Republic Day in 2014 and has now tarnished the dignity of Independence Day.”

He emphasised that if the Chief Minister is unable to hoist the flag, the responsibility should fall on the L-G, as has been the case historically. “From 1991 to 1993 and in 2014, when there was no Chief Minister in Delhi, the L-G hoisted the flag,” Sachdeva noted. He suggested that if Kejriwal truly wishes for Atishi to hoist the flag, he should resign and allow her to take the oath as Chief Minister.

Bidhuri argued that the CM’s request is unprecedented and inappropriate. “There is no tradition, rule, or example in Delhi where a minister of the Chief Minister’s choice hoists the flag. If Kejriwal wants Atishi to hoist the flag, he can organise a programme at his party’s office or elsewhere and ask her to do so, but in the official function of the government, only the Chief Minister has the right to do so,” he said.

Adding to the criticism, BJP leader and South Delhi MP Ramvir Singh Bidhuri also urged the L-G to reject Kejriwal’s request.

Hoist the flag elsewhere

If Kejriwal wants Atishi to hoist the flag, he can organise a programme at his party’s office or elsewhere and ask her to do so. — Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, South Delhi MP

L-G hoisted flag in CM’s absence

From 1991 to 1993 and in 2014, when there was no Chief Minister in Delhi, the L-G hoisted the flag.

— Virendra Sachdeva , Delhi BJP President