AAP leader Ashish Khetan claims 'cabinet' status, Delhi govt denies

New Delhi: Hours after ruling Aam Aadmi Party leader Ashish Khetan claimed having been granted the status of a cabinet minister, the Delhi government denied it.

In a press conference on Friday, Khetan said the Delhi government "has decided to give the Delhi Dialogue Commission (DDC) vice chairman the status of cabinet minister".

Hours later the Delhi government sought to clarify that Khetan "has not been accorded the status of cabinet minister".

"He will be entitled to receive reimbursement of travelling or boarding expenses and remuneration at par with the the Ministers of Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi to facilitate him to discharge his function as the vice chairman of DDC full-time," the government said in a statement.

The AAP government had appointed Khetan as the vice chairman of the DDC in March. The advisory body is working on the 70-point agenda of the Delhi government.

Khetan, who unsuccessfully contested the Lok Sabha election from New Delhi constituency last year, is a closest aide of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.