‘I’m no Sheila, won’t let PM sleep’
TWIN RAPES CM lambasts Centre for repeated crimes against women, seeks at least partial control of Delhi Police
NEW DELHI: Lashing out at the Centre for the “non-existent law and order” situation in the Capital, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal demanded that his government be handed over the control of the Delhi Police, even if only a part.
“Give us the control of Delhi Police. If we fail to control crime, take it back. If, however, you want to control the police in the VIP parts of Delhi, give us the control of the police in the trans-Yamuna area,” said Kejriwal after his meeting with lieutenant-governor Najeeb Jung after two minors — aged two and five — were gangraped in the Capital.
According to sources, the AAP government is planning to approach the Supreme Court to fix the responsibility of the Delhi Police. He also called a special cabinet meeting on Monday to discuss women’s safety and the measures taken.
“It is to be decided by the Centre what the Delhi Police is going to do. I have called a meeting of the cabinet to discuss what we must do,” he said.
Kejriwal also took potshots at former Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit when quizzed about the similarity in their responses over women’s safety.
“I am not Sheila Dikshit. I will not remain silent if women are not safe,” he said.
Both Kejriwal and Dikshit have expressed their inability to control crime against women because the Delhi Police was not under their control. Kejriwal, who attacked Dikshit for giving this statement earlier, was criticised — especially on social media — for giving the same reaction when in power.
“Women are not safe in Delhi. It is like jungle raj. If rapes and crime against women keep happening, I will not let the PM sleep peacefully,” he said.
Later in the day, Kejriwal ARVIND KEJRIWAL, CM used Union finance minister Arun Jaitley’s statement on the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) to make a case for the transfer of Delhi Police to the state government.
“Jaitley-ji on NJAC - ‘Indian democracy cannot be a tyranny of the unelected.’ Jaitley ji, this is exactly what we have been demanding in Delhi,” he tweeted.
Kejriwal went to meet the families of the two victims on Saturday. Delhi Commission for Women chief, Swati Maliwal also sought a meeting with the L-G on the issue of women’s safety on Sunday evening.
Give us the control of Delhi Police. If we fail to control crime, take it back. If, however, you want to control the police in the VIP parts of Delhi, give us the control in the trans-Yamuna area. I am not Sheila Dikshit... Women are not safe in Delhi. It is like jungle raj. If rapes and crime against women keep happening, I will not let the Prime Minister sleep peacefully.