"Will Beg At Every Doorstep...": Arvind Kejriwal vs Centre Over Yoga Scheme

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today announced that the free yoga classes being held by his government will not stop, while asserting that he will not let any work stop despite alleged obstruction by the Lt Governor and the BJP.

Addressing a press conference, Mr Kejriwal also showed the file of 'Dilli Ki Yogshala' scheme and said his deputy Manish Sisodia had signed it on October 26 and it would have been sent to the Lieutenant Governor the same day or the next day.

Mr Sisodia had said that the scheme would be discontinued from Tuesday since no decision had been taken by Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena on its continuation, in what could trigger a fresh confrontation between the AAP government and the Lt Governor.

Sources in the government had claimed on Monday that the Lt Governor has not approved the extension of the scheme after October 31.

Sources in the Lt Governor secretariat had, however, said that the Lt Governor's office has not received any file seeking permission for the extension of the programme beyond October 31 and hence, it was wrong to say that Saxena had not approved the extension due to which the scheme was being discontinued.

"There were 17,000 beneficiaries who were availing those yoga classes. There were many who were battling post Covid complications. It is with great sadness that these people have shut them down," Mr Kejriwal said.

Claiming that yoga classes were shut owing to petty politics, he said there is anger among people due to this.

"Yoga teachers have said they will continue to take classes, I have got calls for donation from across the country. I want to announce that the yoga classes will not stop. I am ready to even beg with a bowl at every doorstep to help this scheme continue," he said.

Targetting the BJP and the Lt Governor, the Chief Minister said he will not let any work stop in the national capital despite obstruction from the Lt Governor and the BJP.

"If the scheme is stopped misusing power, 2 crore people in Delhi will respond," he asserted.

He also announced that yoga classes will also be started in Punjab and if his party wins in Gujarat, it will also start them there.
 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)