Delhi L-G denies permission to 4 chief ministers to meet Arvind Kejriwal

New Delhi: Delhi Lieutenant Governor (L-G) Anil Baijal has denied permission to four Chief Ministers seeking to meet their Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal who is on a sit-in protest at the Lt Governor's office for the sixth consecutive day today.

The requests of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, arnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to meet Arvind Kejriwal were turned down by Delhi L-G Anil Baijal. 

The Chief Ministers are in Delhi to attend the NITI Aayog meeting tomorrow.

Reacting to the report, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, "I don’t think Hon’ble L-G can take such a decision on his own. Obviously, PMO has directed him to refuse permission. Just like IAS strike is being done at PMO’s instance."

Further accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of denying permission of meeting with West Bengal Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal tweeted: "We live in a democracy. Can PM deny Hon’ble CMs of other states to meet CM of another state? Raj Niwas is no one’s personal property. It belongs to the people of India."

Despite permission being denied, the four Chief Ministers will walk to Raj Niwas from Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said.

Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia who is also on a hunger strike at L-G's office took to Twitter and said, "How can PMO stop Hon Chief Ministers of other states to meet CM Delhi. Is this undeclared emergency in Delhi?"

Chief Minister of West Bengal, Karnataka, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh have writtedn to Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal that they would like to make representation to him with respect to issues concerning Delhi CM. They have sought an appointment for 9 pm today.

(Photo: ANI/Twitter)

Mamata Banerjee had pledged her support to Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal earlier this week, appealing to the Centre to resolve the problem "immediately".

"Elected Chief Minister must get due respect. May I appeal to the government of India and the L-G to resolve the problem immediately so that people do not suffer", the West Bengal Chief Minister had tweeted on Wednesday.

Earlier this week, L-G Anil Baijal had refused permission to former BJP leader Yashwant Sinha, AAP lawmaker Sanjay Singh and Arvind Kejriwal's brother, wife and mother to meet the Delhi Chief Minister.