AAP govt vs cops: Who controls police immaterial, we want security, say people of Delhi

New Delhi: As the tussle between the Aam Aadmi Party and the police intensifies in Delhi, and the so-called experts in the media and elsewhere continue viewing the matter through the prism of politics, the real stakeholder in the issue – the ordinary Delhiite – remains sadly ignored. They are the ones bearing the brunt of poor law and order in the capital city on a daily basis, but in the entire debate on who should control the police Delhiites are conspicuous by their absence. The ordinary Delhiwallah’s take is quite simple: “We don’t know who controls Delhi police. It does not matter who does, we should have a safe, criminal-free city. That is not the case right now.” [caption id=“attachment_2355180” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. AFP[/caption] “But where is the safety and security for us on the streets of Delhi? At least, after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) came to power, the harassment of autowallahs by the police has stopped. No traffic cop dares to issue challans to us illegally, unlike in the past. Therefore the Kejriwal government should be allowed to control the police as well,” said Santosh Kumar, an autorickshaw driver who operates in south-east Delhi. Manoj Das, a small vendor selling packaged snacks and beverages at Chittaranjan Park market agreed, “See, after the AAP came to power there is a decline in police highhandedness. Earlier, the cops used to dislodge roadside vendors, verbally abuse them in public and often took bribes to allow them to continue their business. It’s so insulting and humiliating for these poor people, who had been trying to earn their livelihood with honesty. Looking at this, we feel, the Delhi government should have some proper control over police.” The recent brutal murder of a 19-year old girl, who was stabbed more than 30 times in broad daylight in Delhi, followed by the statement of Delhi police commissioner BS Bassi saying, “I’m accountable to the system and people, and not to the chief minister” – has again ignited an all-out war between the AAP government and the police in Delhi over jurisdiction. Anuj Bhati, a law student in Delhi University reasoned, “As a law student, I know, the jurisdiction of Delhi police lies with the MHA, but does the common man know about it? If anything bad happens with any citizen in Delhi, he rushes to the police and he can’t debate over whether power lies with the Centre or the Delhi government. People voted Arvind Kejriwal to power with a historical mandate, and they will only question him over the deteriorating law and order situation in Delhi. As Delhi CM, it’s Kejriwal’s responsibility to provide safety to citizens, but is it possible to do that without power? Considering the situation, the Delhi government should have control over police.” “Can citizens be allowed to die simply because political leaders are busy debating over the issue? Is it a complex procedure to transfer power from the Centre to the Delhi government? Till Delhi achieves full statehood, some kind of administrative mechanism needs to be chalked out so that the Delhi government can have control over Delhi police,” added Bhati. A south Delhi-based educational book–seller Ram agrees with Bharti’s opinions, “Ultimately, it’s the duty of the CM to provide security to Delhi’s citizens. But, is it possible in Delhi, where the CM can’t even make transfers or postings of his choice? Every state head has the right to do so. As a head of a family, can you run a family, if it’s said that no one should listen to you and you have no power to take any decision? Same is with the Delhi government. Times have changed. The Centre should come up with a new power sharing formula to maintain law and order in Delhi. In its absence, the national capital has been reduced to the crime capital.” Is the common man ready to buy the logic of politicians over this conflict of interest and sharing of power? “No. Nobody is interested in this politics of blame game. One thing is simple — Delhi has a government elected by its people. And it’s the responsibility of that government to see development as well safety, which is not possible unless the CM has the power to control the police, at least to a certain extent. You expect good development, growth, peace and harmony in Delhi, but the government is deprived of police power. Is it logical by any means? Has the Centre been successful in providing safety and security in Delhi? This time things must change or else things will further deteriorate. As AAP got a historic mandate and the onus lies with Kejriwal to deliver what he had promised, the AAP government must get a chance. He should get power to officially control the police,” said Zahiruddin, a dealer of mobile phones and gadgets chain at Mustafabad in North East Delhi. Though public opinion seems heavily weighed towards police powers going to the Delhi CM, those in favour of the Centre retaining control over Delhi police believe that the national capital is not just another state capital and needs to be handled with care given its status as a high risk terror target. Abhishek Aneja, a chartered accountant remarked, “If there are two options, I would say that the power should be vested in the Centre. Considering the situation of police in other parts of India where the same is controlled by the local state government, the Delhi Police still has a better image, if not worse. In other states, the police is under state governments, where local MLAs’ act as if they are above the law given that the police is under their control. Moreover, Delhi is a high risk terror target and needs special protection. Given the situation, the Centre also has to ensure high quality policing for the common man of Delhi.”