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This is an archive article published on March 23, 2023
Entire Delhi missed Manish Sisodia on budget day: Arvind Kejriwal
Manish Sisodia was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation on February 26 after hours of questioning in the case regarding alleged irregularities in the now-scrapped excise policy.
Both CM Arvind Kejriwal and minister Kailash Gahlot noted Manish Sisodia's absence during before presenting the Delhi budget. (Express Photo by Amit Mehra)
The Aam Aadmi Party-led government in Delhi may have presented its first budget without former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who also held the finance portfolio, but his shadow loomed large.
Before the budget was presented by new Finance Minister Kailash Gahlot, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted: “Delhi’s budget will be presented today. Everyone is missing Manish ji a lot today. But will not let his work stop. The work started by him will be done at double the speed.”
Sisodia was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation on February 26 after hours of questioning in the case regarding alleged irregularities in the now-scrapped excise policy. The agency had called him a week before for questioning but he had sought a week’s time, stating that he was busy preparing the budget. He tendered his resignation on February 28. Since then, two more cases have been filed against him — one by the ED in the excise policy matter and another by CBI in a case related to the Feedback Unit.
Gahlot too started his speech by acknowledging Sisodia’s absence.
“Manish Sisodia is not like my brother, he is my brother. When Shri Ram went to vanvas, his brother took his place and managed everything. Likewise, I am presenting the budget this year. Sisodia ji has done a lot in the education sector and I pray to god that he presents the budget in the next session,” he said.
At a press conference after the budget was presented, Kejriwal added, “We missed our permanent Finance Minister Manish Sisodia. Entire Delhi missed him as they had got used to listening to his budget speech. In his absence, the budget was presented by Finance Minister Kailash Gahlot. I congratulate him on presenting a very good budget this year,” he said.
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