Sheila Dikshit stays mum on Kejriwal`s invite for open debate

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit chose not to answer a question if she would accept the invitation of Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal for an open debate.

New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Thursday chose not to answer a question if she would accept the invitation of Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal for an open debate on a range of issues concerning the national capital.

Dikshit did not answer when reporters repeatedly asked her whether she would accept the invitation or not. Earlier in the day, Kejriwal sent a letter to Dikshit "formally" inviting her for an open debate at a public place so that people could participate and directly ask questions. Kejriwal said though the Chief Minister had refused his earlier offer for a public debate, he decided to invite her formally after some editors advised him to do so. In the letter to Dikshit, Kejriwal said "I am writing you this letter as some of the editors suggested that I should invite you formally. I am inviting you formally and if you find it right, then we should also ask (BJP`s chief ministerial candidate) Harsh Vardhan to participate". The AAP leader said he had asked her for an open debate on several occasions as he believes that debates should be held among the parties participating in elections so that public could direct ask questions to their representatives.