Arvind Kejriwal was invited to attend the World Cities Summit in Singapore. (File)
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging the Centre to give clearance for his visit to Singapore for the "World Cities' Summit", due at the end of this month. "It is against the interest of the country to stop a Chief Minister from visiting such an important stage... This invitation is a matter of pride and honor for the country," he wrote.
Mr Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party has also raised the matter at the all-party meeting held ahead of parliament's Monsoon Session. The meet, convened by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, was held today.
Mr Kejriwal was invited for the meet back in June by Singapore High Commissioner Simon Wong and accepted the invite. But he is yet to receive permission for the visit.
Sources earlier said the matter is pending with the office of the new Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, who took over from Anil Baijal at the end of May.
Mr Kejriwal is expected to speak at the summit on August 1.
"The Singapore government has invited us to present the Delhi model at a world-class conference," Mr Kejriwal wrote in his letter to the Prime Minister.
"The Delhi model will be presented in front of many big leaders around the world. The whole world wants to know about the Delhi model," the letter read.
"Give permission as soon as possible so that I can elevate the name of the country with this visit," he added.
In 2019, the Centre had withheld permission to Mr Kejriwal for a similar visit, saying it is unbecoming for a Chief Minister to participate in a meet meant for Mayors. Mr Kejriwal finally had to address the meet online.
This time, AAP – which is ruling Delhi for the second consecutive term with another massive mandate – appears determined to pursue the issue. AAP, which showcased its work on the education and health sectors in Delhi, also had a massive victory in the Punjab Assembly elections.