Kejriwal takes war over CCTVS to LG’S doorstep
CAMERA POLITICS Delhi CM leads 63 AAP MLAS in a march to meet Anil Baijal at his office
NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, his deputy Manish Sisodia, 61 AAP MLAS and one AAP Rajya Sabha MP marched to the Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal’s office on Monday, holding placards and banners, as the row over installation of 1.4 lakh cameras in the national Capital intensified.
Raising slogans against the L-G, the CM and others sat outside his office for over three hours to meet him after security personnel told them that only the CM and his cabinet can go in but not the MLAS.
“BJP’S L-G insulted citizens of Delhi by refusing to meet elected representatives who sat on a dharna for three hours. We will go to the public at ward level and tell them how the BJP and L-G are stalling CCTVS. Public will decide SOP for cameras’ installation, not a shahanshah’s (Baijal) committee,” Kejriwal said.
The L-G, in a tweet, yet again rejected AAP’S allegations that the was delaying the implementation of t he project and described the party’s demonstration as ‘protest without reason’.
“Despite agreeing to meet Hon. CM @Arvindkejriwal with his Ministers & Hon. MP although my yesterday’s letter had clarified that no proposal for installation of CCTVS has been recd nor I hv issued any orders to stall/stop award of work, Hon. CM prefers to ‘protest without reason’,” Baijal tweeted on Monday evening.
The CCTV camera project has become the latest flashpoint between the L-G and the Delhi government after Baijal formed a committee headed by principal secretary (home) to draft a stan-
BJP’S LG insulted citizens of Delhi by refusing to meet elected representatives who sat on a dharna for three hours.
dard operating procedure of installing, operating and maintaining such cameras in the Capital.
AAP MLAS had started gathering at Kejriwal’s residence in Civil Lines since 2pm and set off for L-G’S office at 3 pm led by Kejriwal. During the two-kilometre march, they raised slogans against the L-G and the BJP.
Addressing the gathering, Kejriwal said they had not come to protest but to meet the L-G to resolve the CCTV issue. He said he had come to discuss the crucial issue of women security.
“We waited for three hours on the road … only cowards use police but brave hearts dare to engage in dialogue. I am pained that L-G refused to meet the elected representatives. L-G has a duty and he must meet public and its representatives,” Kejriwal said.
He added that law and order in Delhi had gone for a toss and incidents of crime against women were increasing. He also alleged that the installation of CCTVS in his constituency, New Delhi, has been stopped by the NDMC.
“In view of the L-G’S committee, NDMC has stopped work. This is extremely unfortunate. Dirty politics is being played over women security,” the Delhi CM said.
A spokesperson for the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) said the work has not stopped. “NDMC is evaluating rates for 1,000 CCTV cameras as compared to the those received by PWD, to save public money,” the spokesperson said.