NEW DELHI: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hand over the control of Delhi Police to his government.
Referring to the murder of a 19-year-old girl in central Delhi's Anand Parbat area, the Delhi Chief Minister said crime related incidents are on the rise and women do not feel safe in the national Capital.
"I request Prime Minister Narendra Modi with folded hands that the control of Delhi Police be handed over to us. He has to run the whole country.
"I am not saying Delhi Police officials are wrong. They are very good people and are working but the system is bad. Even police officials themselves are frustrated with this and no improvement is happening," Kejriwal said while addressing a gathering at the inauguration of first 'Aam Aadmi' clinic at Peeragarhi relief camp here.
Former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit too claimed that there were some "shortcomings" in the system. "There is some shortcomings in the system which is why it is not able to handle. Politicising it and blaming each other will not lead to solutions," Dikshit said, advocating for a commission to suggest necessary changes in the system.
Kejriwal said the recent murder was "shocking" but policing was not under the control of Delhi Government. "I went to Anand Parbat yesterday. People are too scared. There is no policing, no security in the area. The incident was shocking but you all know Delhi Police is not under our
control," he said.
"Crime related incidents are increasing, women do not feel safe and whenever we talk to senior police officials, they have one answer that they are under the Centre's control," Kejriwal said.
"I request you (PM) to either take out one hour every week for Delhi Police, law and order situation and women security, or please hand over control of Delhi Police to Delhi government if you do not have time," Kejriwal said.
Earlier today, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) staged a protest against Delhi Police over the killing of a 19-year-old girl in Anand Parbat locality three days ago, saying it has failed to provide security to women. Kejriwal too has asked Delhi Police commissioner B S Bassi to meet him on Monday to discuss law and order situation.
Nineteen-year-old Meenakshi was stabbed to death allegedly by two brothers living in her neighbourhood for protesting their verbal abuse on July 16. Kejriwal had yesterday announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the family of a girl and ordered a magisterial probe into the case.