The Delhi CM was offended by a picture of PM Modi which was added to the banner of an event and Arvind Kejriwal refuses to attend event.
Source: Bing images
New Delhi: In yet another spectacle the Aam Aadmi Party Chief has resorted to theatrical tantrums this time by refusing to attend an event with the Lieutenant Governor over a petty banner.
Arvind Kejriwal, the CM of Delhi( Arvind Kejriwal) refuses to attend eventand Gopal Rai, the Minister of Environment refused to attend an event with the L-G Saxena. The Minister clarified that this decision was rooted on the politicization of the poster war that broke out.
The hoarding on the stage was changed to include the picture of PM Modi which had deeply perturbed the AAP and led Arvind Kejriwal to refuse to attend the event.
The event was organised under the aegis of the Environment and Forest department under the government of Delhi. According to the event list, the L-G, the CM and Rai were supposed to attend but the latter two refused at the last minute.
The AAP minister held a press conference accusing the Prime Minister’s Office of “hijacking” the stage by overshadowing the LED screen with the “original” banner with a new banner which had the PM’s picture.
Perturbed by the modification in the banner, Rai said, “The CM Arvind Kejriwal and L-G had to attend the event together but it is very unfortunate that in this government programme, at the behest of the PMO, police were sent and were made to hijack the pandal and stage at the venue. On the stage, a banner with PM Modi’s photo was placed.”
Anguished at the situation he stated, “People were told that if it is removed, action would be taken against them. As per the programme, the banner would be flashed on an LED screen and awareness programmes for children would be played following that. But a banner was placed on the LED. This is unfathomable.”
While the officials from the L-G’s office confirmed that the banner was sent to the government’s office for approval, an official from the government of Delhi validated that the banner was devoid of the PM’s picture which was definitely added later.
However, the L-G said that the nitty-gritties of the event were supposed to be decided mutually. Furthermore, the Delhi government did not invite the MP from the region in question though they did invite MLA’s when they inspected a mill in another area. They were asked not to invite an MP or MLA because it gives the act a tint of politics, yet they defied the ask.
The Government of Delhi has habitually created a political tussle between the centre and the UT. Every now and then there is a hue and cry amidst the UT’s ministers being overshadowed and overpowered by the Union. The centre has tried to maintain their stance but for every petty matter the Delhi government accuses, alleges and blames the centre.
It seems as if the agenda of AAP is devoid of the understanding of the concept of “Cooperative Federalism” and so they are hell bent on creating a ruckus. Petty issues such as that of photographs on a banner should not stop the CM from serving the people who voted for him. However, the CM of Delhi seems to care more about a banner than the people of Delhi.
For the government of Delhi environment and environmental issues should be a top priority but that is not the case.
This incident is one after an escalated series of issues that arose amidst the L-G’s office and the government of Delhi. The issues highetend after the new L-G took over two months ago.
Recently, the L-G recommended a CBI probe into the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22, putting Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, in-charge of the excise department, directly in the line of fire, which did not go down well with the party in charge. The CM did not attend the scheduled meeting with the L-G on Friday.
The government of Delhi should focus on the development and safeguards for the people rather than creating a political ruckus. Having had the example of a failing Congress, the AAP should know better than throwing unnecessary tantrums. This is a democracy and not a circus!
