Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, currently in jail, had decided that Minister Atishi would hoist the national flag this Independence Day. However, this decision has led to controversy. The General Administration Department (GAD) under Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has declared Kejriwal’s decision as “invalid” and said that a final decision on who will hoist the flag is still pending. The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has called GAD’s response “petty politics” and argued that there should be no problem if an elected minister hoists the flag.

Environment Minister Gopal Rai recently met with Kejriwal in jail. After the meeting, Rai informed GAD of Kejriwal’s decision and requested that Atishi be allowed to hoist the flag in Kejriwal’s place. However, GAD stated that Kejriwal cannot authorize Atishi to hoist the flag. In response to Rai’s letter, GAD’s Additional Chief Secretary Naveen Kumar Chaudhary said that the Chief Minister’s instruction is “legally invalid and cannot be acted upon.” Kejriwal had also written to Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, but the LG’s office claimed no letter was received. Later, Tihar Jail authorities informed Kejriwal that his letter was considered an “abuse of privileges” and was not sent to the LG.

GAD’s Argument:
GAD argued that Independence Day and Republic Day are highly important national events, and any mistake could undermine their sanctity and legality. It stated, “Independence Day and Republic Day must be celebrated according to their importance.” GAD emphasized that no one else can fill the Chief Minister’s role, and they are coordinating with all relevant departments for the Independence Day celebration at Chhatrasal Stadium. The issue has been raised with senior officials, and a decision is awaited.

What Did Sisodia and Atishi Say?
Senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia, who is out on bail in the liquor policy case, criticized GAD’s decision. He said, “There should be no problem with an elected minister hoisting the flag. I read in the newspapers that when a conman like Sukesh writes a letter, Tihar administration submits it to the LG’s office, and the LG acts on it immediately. But when the Chief Minister writes a letter, the LG tells Tihar administration not to send it. The LG’s office should have asked the Tihar Jail Director General’s office to send Kejriwal’s letter. But they seem more concerned with people like Sukesh than with democracy or the country.”

Atishi told the media that the Lieutenant Governor is preventing the elected government from hoisting the flag. She questioned whether the BJP stands with democracy or with autocracy.