New Delhi: AAP’s chief ministerial candidate and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday expressed disappointment over not being invited to attend the Republic Day parade.
The AAP supremo said, “I am not invited to attend the Republic Day celebrations, I don’t know why I wasn’t invited. Though I want to attend.”
AAP leaders Ashutosh and Kumar Vishwas also condemned as Kejriwal did not receive any formal invitation.
They said keeping aside political rivalries; all former Cabinet ministers should have received a formal invitation to attend Republic Day Parade celebrations.
Meanwhile, BJP said as per the protocol, former chief ministers are not invited to attend the Republic Day parade; however, “on demand” special invitation can be extended.
BJP spokesperson GVL Narsimha Rao said, “Ministry of Defence gives invitation to attend Republic Day celebrations and I sought clarification from the ministry on the issue. As per the protocol, from Delhi only LG (lieutenant governor) and current chief minister or acting chief minister gets invitation.”
“There is no protocol to invite former chief minister. If any former chief minister wants to attend the function, he/she can get special invitation on demand. But I clarify again, there is no protocol to invite former chief ministers,” Rao added.
Last year, Kejriwal threatened to derail Republic Day celebrations and had said,”If the central government does not agree to our demands by Jan 26, then we will fill Rajpath (the central boulevard in the heart of central Delhi) with lakhs of people”. The AAP chief however was seen attending it at Rajghat in the national capital.
Meanwhile, the capital has turned into a virtual fortress ahead of Obama’s arrival on Sunday, with over 45,000 security personnel guarding roads and 15,000 CCTV cameras keeping a hawk’s eye on various areas.
Around 20,000 personnel will be deployed on specific locations from Jan 25, the day Obama arrives in Delhi and the number will almost double the next day, Delhi Police has said.