The AAP lashed out at the Centre for not inviting Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to the inauguration of two-km extension of the Airport Express Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) line from the Dwarka Sector 21 station to YashoBhoomi Dwarka Sector 25 station on Sunday. The metro line was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Delhi minister Atishi reminded the prime minister that as guardian of all the state governments, he should rise above party lines, while another minister, Saurabh Bharadwaj, said the non-invite to the Delhi CM does not reflect the spirit of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (the world is one family) that Modi was championing at the G20 World Leaders Summit a week ago.
"Just a week before PM Modi in front of the world leaders said 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ meaning the world is a family. And now in your own country, you don't invite a three-time elected chief minister to the inauguration of metro...," news agency ANI quoted Bharadwaj as saying.
Atishi pointed out that the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is a 50:50 venture of the Centre and the city government.
"This means half the funds are spent by the city government and the other half by the Centre. But it was not considered important to invite the Delhi chief minister to the event. I want to tell the prime minister that he is the guardian of all the state governments. He should rise above party lines," the minister said.
She said not inviting Kejriwal to a DMRC event reflects "cheap mentality" and added that since Delhi is the national capital, the Centre and the city government should work together for its development.
