Govt Explains Why Kejriwal Was Denied Permission To Visit Denmark

Sources in the Delhi government had said on Tuesday that Kejriwal was scheduled to leave for the C-40 Climate Summit in Copenhagen, Denmark, at 2 pm on Tuesday, but could not take the flight as the MEA denied him the political clearance to attend the meeting.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal (PIC/PTI)

New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal hasn’t been given permission by the government to attend a climate summit in Denmark and the decision has left his party red-faced. AAP’s Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh on Sunday had said the Modi government has hurt the image of the country with its move. "This is unfortunate and beyond my understanding. Why is Modi Ji's government working with such hostility towards us?" Mr Singh was quoted by news agency ANI as saying. Singh termed the Centre's decision to withhold the clearance "unfortunate", saying it would affect India's image. Justifying its decision of not denying permission, the government today said the summit is meant for "mayor-level" participants. Responding to a question on the issue of permission, Union minister Prakash Javadekar said "it was a mayor-level conference" and a West Bengal minister is going to attend it. Sources later said a separate protocol is followed for chief ministers and rejected suggestions that opposition parties were being targeted. Sources in the Delhi government had said on Tuesday that Kejriwal was scheduled to leave for the C-40 Climate Summit in Copenhagen, Denmark, at 2 pm on Tuesday, but could not take the flight as the MEA denied him the political clearance to attend the meeting. Kejriwal was to lead an eight-member delegation to the summit, slated to be held from October 9-12. (With agency inputs)