Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: A letter from Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena regarding Independence Day flag hoisting has stirred controversy, with Tihar jail authorities labeling it a “breach of privilege.” The authorities have stated that the letter was not sent to the Lieutenant Governor and have warned Kejriwal to refrain from any such activities, cautioning that his privileges could be curtailed.
The controversy began when Mr. Kejriwal, currently under custody, wrote to Lieutenant Governor Saxena last week, informing him that Delhi Minister Atishi would hoist the national flag on August 15 in his absence. This decision was formally announced by Environment Minister Gopal Rai, who shared a notification from the Delhi government confirming the arrangement.
However, the Superintendent of Tihar Jail No. 2 responded with a letter to Kejriwal, stating that his communication did not meet the criteria for permissible correspondence under the Delhi Prison Rules. “Your letter dated 06.08.2024 has not been sent to the addressee but has been filed,” the letter read.
The jail authorities also expressed concern over the contents of the letter being leaked to the media, which they deemed an “abuse of privileges” granted under the Delhi Prison Rules, 2018. The Superintendent advised Kejriwal to avoid engaging in any unauthorized activities, warning that failure to comply could lead to the curtailment of his privileges.
Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on March 21 in connection with the Delhi Excise scam. Although he was granted bail in that case, he remains in custody after being arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in relation to another case.
