'Will Seek Centre's Nod For Kejriwal's Singapore Visit': Manish Sisodia After Delhi LG Denies Permission

Responding to LG's decision, Sisodia argued that chief ministers of other states have attended this conference in the past and even the Prime Minister goes abroad for state-related issues. 

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal along with his deputy Manish Sisodia. (File Photo/ PTI)

After Delhi's Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena advised Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal not to visit Singapore for the World Cities Summit, Deputy CM Manish Sisodia on Thursday said his government will now directly approach the Ministry of External Affairs to seek political clearance for Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor's trip to attend the event. According to reports, Saxena has advised Kejriwal to not attend the World Cities Summit in Singapore next month since it is a conference of mayors and won't be befitting for a chief minister to attend it.

Responding to LG's decision, Sisodia argued that chief ministers of other states have attended this conference in the past and even the Prime Minister goes abroad for state-related issues. 

"The LG has advised Kejriwal to not attend the conference since it is a conference of mayors. The chief ministers of other states have attended this conference in the past. Even the prime minister goes for state-related issues. This is mean politics at work. We will now approach the Ministry of External Affairs directly for political clearance and hope that they will accept our request," Sisodia said during a press briefing.

After Delhi LG blocks CM @ArvindKejriwal's Singapore visit, Hon'ble CM has now written to the Ministry Of External Affairs for 'political clearance'.

"We hope that the Centre will give this clearance as this visit will make India Proud at World Cities Summit"

- Dy CM @msisodia pic.twitter.com/qjMuyKVLAN

— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) July 21, 2022

The World Cities Summit in Singapore will take place on August 1.

Later on, Kejriwal replied to LG's decision to block his Singapore visit. In the letter, Kejriwal said if the visit of each Constitutional authority were to be decided on the basis of what subjects fall within their jurisdiction, it would create a funny situation.

Singapore Visit: CM @ArvindKejriwal's reply to Delhi LG-

"If the visit of each Constitutional authority were to be decided on the basis of what subjects fall within their jurisdiction, it would create a funny situation..

Then the Prime Minister would not be able to go anywhere" pic.twitter.com/1kN7L8Hy8R

— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) July 21, 2022

Earlier, Saxena returned the proposal regarding the foreign visit of Kejriwal pointing out that the conference will be covering different aspects of urban governance, which are addressed by diverse bodies like the MCD, DDA and NDMC apart from the city government.

The LG also noted that AAP-led Delhi government does not have exclusive domain over the issues that will be discussed in the summit and it will be 'inappropriate' for a Chief Minister to attend such event.