Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena on Tuesday nominated Delhi Home Minister Kailash Gahlot to hoist the national flag on Independence Day at the Chhatrasal Stadium event.
The letter comes after the General Administration Department (GAD) of Delhi said it cannot authorise Delhi Minister Atishi to hoist the national flag on August 15, as desired by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is currently in Tihar Jail.
The flag hoisting on Independece Day has led to a slugfest between the AAP government in Delhi and the LG Saxena's office.
The GAD said Arvind Kejriwal, who is in jail in a corruption case, cannot authorise minister Atishi to do so on his behalf. GAD Minister Gopal Rai Monday directed the department to make arrangements for Atishi to unfurl the flag as the chief minister desires.
Responding to the minister's communication, GAD additional chief secretary Navin Kumar Chaudhary said the CM's direction is legally invalid and cannot be acted upon. Chaudhary said preparations for the Independence Day function of the Delhi government was underway at its regular Chhatrasal Stadium venue.
In a letter to the LG last week, Arvind Kejriwal said that Atishi would hoist the national flag in his place during the Delhi government's Independence Day programme. The LG office, however, maintained that they did not receive any communication from the chief minister.
Also, the Tihar Jail authorities informed Kejriwal that his letter to Saxena was an abuse of privileges granted to him under the Delhi Prison Rules and, therefore, it was not not sent to the addressee.
Every year, the Delhi government's Independence Day function is held at Chhatrasal Stadium in the national capital and the chief minister addresses the gathering.
Kejriwal is lodged in Tihar Jail in a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) case in connection with the alleged excise policy scam. He has been granted interim bail by the Supreme Court in the excise policy-linked money laundering case registered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).