No politics over patriotism, Kejriwal implores in House
“I want to ask the BJP — if not in India, will our flag be unfurled in Pakistan? If not in Delhi, will the Indian flag be unfurled in Islamabad?” Kejriwal said in his speech in the Assembly, concluding discussions on the 2021-22 budget, which was passed by the House on Friday.
Speaking in the state assembly on the last day of the budget session, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said there should be no politics over patriotism, which was the theme of the Delhi Budget released earlier this week.
“I want to ask the BJP — if not in India, will our flag be unfurled in Pakistan? If not in Delhi, will the Indian flag be unfurled in Islamabad?” Kejriwal said in his speech in the Assembly, concluding discussions on the 2021-22 budget, which was passed by the House on Friday.
The Delhi government in the Budget, presented on Tuesday, allocated ₹45 crore to set up national flags across 500 locations in the city.
The budget session in the Assembly was adjourned on Friday, ahead of schedule, with speaker Ram Niwas Goel citing risks posed by the uptick in Covid-19 cases in the Capital over the past few days.
Kejriwal also said, “I fail to understand why the BJP and the Congress are opposing the setting up of flags across Delhi. What makes them oppose this? This is a remarkable move, they should support it. There should be no politics when it comes to patriotism… Keeping politics aside, we have supported the Central government in every good decision that they have made until now. I remember, PM announced Swacch Bharat Abhiyaan in 2014, I went to a slum area with a broom. I remember going to India Gate with a yoga mat when the PM announced a Yoga initiative. This year we have planned a Yoga programme for Delhi.”
