The chief ministerial candidate of Aam Aadmi Party Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday wrote to Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, inviting her for an open debate. In his letter to the CM, the AAP leader said he decided to invite her formally after some editors suggested that he do so.
Ms. Dikshit, however, refused to respond to Mr. Kejriwal’s formal invitation.
“I have invited you several times in the past for an open debate because I believe that debates should be held among the parties participating in elections. This strengthens democracy. Forum for such debates should be open to the common public to ask questions,’’ Mr. Kejriwal wrote.
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“I am writing you this letter after some of the editors suggested that I should invite you formally. I am inviting you formally and if you find it suitable then we should also ask Dr. Harsh Vardhan to participate on behalf of the BJP,” the AAP leader’s letter said.
However, while reacting to the letter, Ms. Dikshit said: “Main Kejriwalji ko jawaab nahi doongi (I will not answer Kejriwal’s letter).”
For his part, Mr. Kejriwal said if the CM was ready for debate then they can sit and chalk out its form and finer details.
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“My only suggestion is that such a debate should not be held in a television studio but in an open ground like the Ramlila Maidan or any other public place where the electorate of Delhi can come and directly ask questions,” Mr. Kejriwal said.