AAP slams Centre for not inviting Kejriwal to R-Day, questions special treatment to Bedi

New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday slammed the Centre for not inviting its leader and former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal to the 66th Republic Day celebrations at the majestic Rajpath.

AAP leader Ashish Khetan today said, “Using national events for political gain is not fair especially with polls around.”

Slamming the BJP government at the Centre, Khetan said, “Kiran Bedi ji, BJP's chief ministerial candidate for Delhi, was sitting on the first row, and Kejriwal ji was not even invited for R-day celebration.”

The AAP is reportedly upset over Kejriwal not being invited for the celebrations. "Being a former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal should have been invited," AAP had said yesterday.

Kejriwal led the AAP government in Delhi for a period of 49 days in 2013.

As per the tradition all former chief ministers of the national capital are invited for the ceremony at Rajpath.

In his reaction the AAP chief had yesterday said, "I want to attend the Republic Day celebrations, don't know why I wasn't invited."

"The Prime Minister should have invited Arvind Kejriwal as a former chief minister to the Republic Day celebrations," said AAP leader Kumar Vishwas.

"Arvind ji is not only former Delhi chief minister, but also a popular political leader, he should have been invited for 26th January celebration," said party spokesperson Ashutosh.

Many AAP leaders too said that Kejriwal should have been invited for the Republic Day parade.