Senior AAP leader and Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on July 21 said that Central government-appointed Delhi L-G Vinai Kumar Saxena has advised Chief Minister Minister Arvind Kejriwal to not attend the World Cities Summit in Singapore as it is for ‘Mayors of cities’.
Mr. Sisodia termed it as “mean politics” and added that the Chief Minister does not approve the L-G’s advice and will apply to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) for political clearance to go for the summit.
The L-G advised Mr. Kejriwal to not attend the World Cities Summit next month since it is a conference of Mayors andtherefore, did not “befit attendance” by a Chief Minister, official sources said on July 21.
“Other Chief Ministers from India have gone to this summit in Singapore and other summits,” Mr. Sisodia added.
On July 17, Delhi Chief Minister expressed his displeasure over the Centre’s delay in providing him clearance to attend the World Cities Summit, which will be held in Singapore from July 31 to August 3.
Mr. Kejriwal had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 7 seeking permission for the journey, but he hasn’t received a response yet, as per the Delhi government.
The L-G said the Delhi Government does not have exclusive domain over the issues and it will be ‘inappropriate’ for a Chief Minister to attend it.
The L-G has also noted that a Chief Minister attending such a conference will set a bad precedent.
Will seek political clearance from MEA: Sisodia
Meanwhile, Mr. Sisodia said his government will now directly approach the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to seek political clearance for Mr. Kejriwal’s Singapore visit.
“The L-G has advised Kejriwal to not attend the conference since it is a conference of Mayors. The Chief Ministers of other States have attended this conference in the past. Even the Prime Minister goes for State-related issues. This is mean politics at work. We will now approach the Ministry of External Affairs directly for political clearance and hope that they will accept our request,” Mr. Sisodia said during a briefing.
