After Live Streaming Kejriwal's Appeal To PM During In-House Meeting, CMO Expresses Regret

Delhi Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said it has regretted the inconvenience caused by the live streaming of the conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Today, the Chief Minister address was shared live because there has never been any instruction, written or verbal, from the central govt that the said interaction could not be shared live," said Delhi CMO in a statement.

It further said that there have been multiple occasions of similar interactions where matters of public importance which had no confidential information were shared live. "However, if any inconvenience was caused we highly regret that," the CMO said.

Prime Minister @narendramodi chairs meeting on #COVID19 situation with Chief Ministers of high burden States

PM requests States to be strict with hoarding and black marketing of essential medicines and injections#IndiaFightsCorona

Read: https://t.co/m0N2KeBwPF

(1/2) pic.twitter.com/x1W2qK4Ixf

¡ª PIB India (@PIB_India) April 23, 2021

What happened?

The development came after Kejriwal came under criticism for live-streaming his appeal to the PM during the COVID-19 review meeting with Chief Ministers on Friday.

In his appeal, Kejriwal requested him to direct chief ministers of all states to ensure smooth movement of oxygen tankers coming to the national capital.

"People in major pain due to oxygen shortage. We fear a big tragedy may happen due to oxygen shortage and we will never be able to forgive ourselves. Despite being a CM, I am not able to help the people of Delhi. I request you with folded hands to direct all CMs to ensure smooth movement of oxygen tankers coming to Delhi," he said during the meeting.

Representational Image/IANS

"We need a national plan to deal with the crisis. Central government should take over all oxygen plants through the Army and every tanker coming out of the oxygen plant should be accompanied by an Army escort vehicle," he said.

"We are thankful to the Central government that they increased our quota of oxygen but we have been trying since two days to get the oxygen supply. The oxygen supply scheduled to come to Delhi from Odisha and West Bengal should either be airlifted or brought through the 'Oxygen express' started by the Centre," he said.

The chief minister also objected to different rates being charged from state governments and the Centre for the COVID-19 vaccine, and said "one nation, one rate" policy should be followed.

AFP

"In a single country, why are we having two prices for the same thing. There should be one nation, one rate policy. The entire country should get vaccine at a similar rate. Every one in the country should be entitled to vaccine, medicines and oxygen, without any dispute," he said.

PM ?? ??? Meeting ??? CM @ArvindKejriwal ?? OXYGEN SHORTAGE ?? ???? Narendra Modi ?? ?? ?? ?????? ????: pic.twitter.com/UuiKA442kn

¡ª AAP (@AamAadmiParty) April 23, 2021

Responding to the comments made by Kejriwal, PM Modi accused him of breaching the protocol.

"Let me say something ... this is strictly against our tradition, our protocol ... that a chief minister is running a live telecast of an in-house meeting," the Prime Minister said.

See how #Kejriwal apologizes to #PMModi for not following protocol on bring live with media while attending #COVID19 meeting..!!
In between @ArvindKejriwal is an IITian.#shameonkejriwal pic.twitter.com/hg8kOSEZOe

¡ª Ban-her-jee?? (@Being_SadeSati) April 23, 2021

"This is inappropriate and we must refrain from doing so," PM Modi added.