Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: Delhi’s Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has authorized senior-most minister Atishi to hoist the national flag at the Independence Day function on August 15, as per a letter addressed to Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena. The decision comes amidst Kejriwal’s ongoing incarceration following his arrest over alleged irregularities in the 2021-22 excise policy.
Atishi, who took office as a minister in early 2023 after Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia resigned due to his own arrest in the same excise policy case, will step in for Kejriwal at the annual ceremony held at Chhatrasal Stadium. This event has seen Kejriwal hoist the flag since 2015.
Kejriwal was detained on March 21 and has remained in prison, except for a brief period of interim bail during the Lok Sabha elections in May. His absence necessitates Atishi’s participation in the traditional Independence Day proceedings.
This change marks a significant moment in Delhi’s political landscape as the city prepares to celebrate its national heritage under new leadership for the first time in nearly a decade.