L-G nominates Gahlot to hoist Tricolour on I-Day
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, August 13
The dispute over Delhi’s Independence Day celebrations finally ended after Lieutenant-Governor (L-G) VK Saxena on Tuesday nominated the city’s Transport Minister, Kailash Gahlot, to lead the flag-hoisting ceremony on August 15.
The controversy began after Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is currently in jail, wrote a letter to Saxena requesting that Minister Atishi be allowed to hoist the flag.
Since 2015, Kejriwal has hoisted the flag at Chhatrasal Stadium on Independence Day. However, since he is currently in jail, he was unavailable for the event.
Last week, the AAP stated that Kejriwal had written a letter to Saxena, but L-G Secretariat officials claimed they had not received any communication from the CM.
On Monday, Tihar Jail authorities said Kejriwal’s letter to Saxena regarding Independence Day constituted a “breach of privilege” and had not been sent to him.
Meanwhile, Minister Gopal Rai wrote a letter to the General Administration Department (GAD), stating that he had met the CM in jail and that Kejriwal had appointed Atishi to hoist the flag.
The GAD responded by deeming Rai’s communication “legally invalid” and stating that it “cannot be acted upon”.
The department noted, “Independence Day and Republic Day are national events with supreme constitutional sanctity. There are detailed laid down provisions for celebrating them. Any deviations thereto or subjugation thereof will not only undermine the sanctity associated with them but may also amount to statutory illegality.”
It also stated that any communication from the CM while in jail does not fall under the permissible communication that can be sent outside prison, citing Delhi Prison Rules. Since the CM was unavailable for the event, the department referred the matter to the higher authorities and awaited a decision.
Later in the day, Raj Niwas officials announced that Saxena nominated Gahlot for the flag-hoisting ceremony.
In response, the AAP said, “We welcome the decision to have Delhi’s Home Minister Gahlot unfurl the national flag on August 15. This move honours the principle of democracy by choosing an elected representative over an appointed one, reinforcing the importance of the people’s mandate in our governance.”
