After letter to PM, Arvind Kejriwal's remark on Singapore visit, GST rule

Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday wrote to PM Modi, alleging that he was facing a delay for a planned visit to Singapore.

A day after he wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, citing a delay in getting approval for his planned visit to Singapore to participate in the World Cities Summit (WCS), Arvind Kejriwal yet again brought up the issue on Monday amid voting for the presidential elections.

The Singapore visit seems to be the latest flashpoint between Arivnd Kejriwal and centre. (ANI File)

"I am an elected MLA. I don't understand why I am being stopped (from going to the World Cities Summit). The Singapore government has called me to tell them about the Delhi model- growth of services in health schools. This will promote the country on an international level,” he told reporters.

"I am not a criminal, I am a chief minister and a free citizen of the country. There was no legal basis to stop me from visiting Singapore so there appears to be a political reason behind this," he added.

The summit will be held in Singapore between July 31 and August 3 where leaders from across the world have been invited to share best practices and ideas for cities to emerge as more livable, sustainable and resilient.

As he came to vote for presidential polls, Kejriwal on Monday also raised an objection to the new GST rules, which have now kicked in.

“I demand the central government to take back the GST applied on materials of everyday use of basic food products, it is not right. The Delhi government is the only one that is providing any respite from growing inflation through its many schemes,” he added.

“The entire country is facing a steep price rise and the Centre has increased the cost of food items by imposing GST on them,” he stressed.

As per the new rules, a 5 per cent GST on pre-packed and labelled food items such as cereals, pulses and flour weighing less than 25 kg will now be levied.

Voting is being held across India for the presidential elections 2022, which is witnessing a face-off between NDA-backed Droupadi Murmu and Yashwant Sinha, the opposition pick.

Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP had said that it would favour Murmu, who has numbers stacked in her favour.

If elected, she would be India’s first tribal woman president.

(With inputs from ANI, PTI)