Facing flak over students visually forming Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s name during Independence Day celebrations, the Delhi Government on Saturday said it is part of a “tradition” being followed over the years. Kejriwal’s name was a part of several such designs, including the tricolour and ‘thank you’, created by students using multi-coloured cloth pieces at the stands of the Chhatrasal Stadium, the venue of the event.
The Government also released pictures showing similar designs — one showing Najeeb Jung’s name and the other Sheila Dikshit’s — created on previous such occasions. “It is unfortunate that a needless controversy was sought to have been created where none existed and the Government wants to set the record straight that it does not interfere in preparations for celebrations of events of national importance. The Delhi Government condemns the attempts to drag it into an unnecessary controversy on the Independence Day, particularly when it had nothing to do with the entire issue,” a Delhi Government press release said.
The pattern came up a few times during Kejriwal’s 40- minute-long speech, where he highlighted his Government’s “achievements”, punctuated with loud cheers from the students.
While Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken decried it as a “shame”, Delhi BJP President Satish Upadhyay condemned the Government for “politically misusing” the Independence Day function. BJP National Secretary RP Singh said, “It is very clear that the Chief Minister is a megalomaniac who can see none other than himself.”
lawyer-activist Prashant Bhushan, who was earlier expelled from AAP, tweeted, “From crs on personality cult promoting Kejriwal ads to ‘Jai Ho Kejriwal’ instead of Jai Hind. Shameful Megalomania.” (sic)
Social media, where images in this regard went viral, heaped scorns on AAP saying the Government’s justification was not befitting as people expected change from Kejriwal.