'His demands can be disastrous'

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal wants Delhi Police to be brought under the control of the state government, but the Centre refuses to shift the control.

Kejriwal is not the first chief minister to make the demand as Sheila Dikshit had also raised the issue during her 15-year tenure. Kejriwal has made it clear that he could not be held responsible for actions of police who are not under his government’s control.
However, the Central government refuses to grant permission due to security concerns of the functionaries and institutions of Central government in the Capital. The controversy involving Law Minister Somnath Bharti and Women and Child Welfare Minister Rakhi Birla has also made the issue difficult for Kejriwal.

Delhi Police are currently accountable only to Union Home Secretary and Lieutenant Governor. On his defence, Kejriwal said the Central government is already burdened and fails to look after to the concerns of the Delhiites.

“The crime rate has been on the rise over the last few years and it can only be brought down and controlled when police will accept orders from ministers. Currently, they refuse to take necessary action to prevent crimes as there is no one to analyse their work,” said Kejriwal.

However, Kiran Bedi, retired Indian Police Service officer and social activist, said any move of shift in control would end up to be disastrous.

”I am aware that the Delhi chief minister has been calling for shift in control, but I strongly believe that any such move would not make any sense. I have always felt that responsibility of law and order in Delhi should remain with the Central government,” she said.

According to Bedi, Kejriwal, being the chief minister, has to be held responsible for law and order situation in the Capital. “Instead of making excuses, he should coordinate with Union Home Secretary Anil Goswami, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung, and Delhi Police Commissioner Bhim Sain Bassi.”

Highlighting the recent controversy between the Delhi government ministers and Delhi Police, president of Delhi Police Retired Gazetted Officers Association, T R Kakkar, said the Delhi government ministers are unfortunately or knowingly spreading a sense of distrust between their followers and Delhi Police.

“The police force of the state must be kept under the Central government, as the present government seems to want the power for political reasons,” he said.

While calling for Delhi Police to be handed over to the state government, the Chief Minister brought to the notice of the Union Home Minister the growing incidents of heinous crimes in the Capital, particularly against women, including the brutal gang rape of a 51-year-old Danish woman.

Kejriwal had also met LG Jung on January 17 to discuss the issue.

“The response of police raises serious issues and requires immediate attention of the concerned authorities, including the Union Home Ministry,” Kejriwal had said.