'I draw your attention towards utter disregard...': Delhi LG VK Saxena writes to CM Arvind Kejriwal over absence from Rajghat, Vijay Ghat

New Delhi: Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena on Monday wrote to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for his absence at Rajghat and Vijay Ghat on the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri on October 2, underlining the "utter disregard displayed" by the Delhi government.

In a letter, the Delhi LG said, "It is with a deep sense of pain, regret and disappointment that I draw your attention towards the utter disregard displayed by you and the Government headed by you towards the commemoration of Gandhi Jayanti and the Jayanti of Bharat Ratna, Lal Bahadur Shastri Ji yesterday."

"I am constrained to mention that neither you, nor any of your Ministers were present at Raj Ghat or Vijay Ghat yesterday, even as the Hon'ble President of India, Hon'ble Vice President, Hon'ble Prime Minister, Hon'ble Speaker of Lok Sabha and a host of other top political leaders of all parties, representatives of foreign missions in India and common residents of Delhi, humbly gathered to pay homage to Bapu and Shastri Ji. While the Dy Chief Minister (Manish Sisodia) was perfunctorily present there for a few minutes, he did not deem the occasion fit enough for him to stay the course," he said.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader was in Gujarat on Sunday for poll campaigning ahead of upcoming assembly elections in the BJP-ruled state.

Kejriwal, however, paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi and former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri on Twitter.

“Tributes to Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi on his birth anniversary. Bapu's non-violent policies, moral base and great ideas will always guide not only India but the whole world,” Kejriwal tweeted in Hindi.

Paying tribute to Lal Bahadur Shastri, he wrote, “Tributes to former Prime Minister Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri ji on his birth anniversary. He will always be remembered for his simplicity and honesty.”