The controversy surrounding flag hoisting on Independence Day in Delhi continues to intensify as the General Administration Department (GAD) of the GNCTD declared that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s authorization for Atishi to hoist the national flag on August 15 is legally “invalid.” The department responded to Minister Gopal Rai, stating that the Chief Minister’s directive cannot be followed.
Gopal Rai mentioned on Monday that he met with Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal in Tihar jail, where Kejriwal authorized Atishi to hoist the flag at the Delhi government’s Independence Day event at Chhatrasal Stadium. However, the GAD countered by stating that Independence Day and Republic Day are national events with high constitutional significance. The department emphasized that there are established guidelines for celebrating these events, and any deviation from these rules could undermine their sanctity and might even constitute legal violations.
The GAD further highlighted specific rules from the Delhi Prison Rules, 2018, particularly Rules 585, 588, 620, and 627. They clarified that the communication from the CM does not meet the criteria for permissible communication from prison, which only allows private correspondence with a designated set of individuals. Therefore, the department asserted that the communication is “not legally valid and cannot be acted upon.”
The General Administration Department also sought to coordinate with the Chief Minister for his participation in the Independence Day function. However, the CM’s office indicated that he would be unavailable due to being in judicial custody. The department has informed higher authorities of the situation and is awaiting a decision. Meanwhile, all necessary arrangements for the Independence Day function at Chhatrasal Stadium are being made as per previous practices.
Reacting to the situation, former Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, who was recently released from jail, expressed his disappointment. He called the development “very unfortunate” and criticized what he sees as political maneuvering on such a significant occasion.
Sisodia remarked, “It is very unfortunate that on such a sacred occasion like Independence Day, petty politics is being played… I keep reading in newspapers that when conman Sukesh writes a letter, Tihar officials submit it to the LG, and the LG takes action on it. But when the elected CM of Delhi writes a letter, the LG stops the Tihar officials from sending it to him.”
He further added, “If the CM has written a letter in connection with Independence Day, the LG office should simply contact the DG office and ask them to forward it, but it has nothing to do with Independence Day.”