AAP member on why questioning of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal is nothing but a witch-hunt
The Delhi Police has often drawn flak for numerous instances of shoddy investigation and brash behaviour. On May 17, the Delhi High Court pulled up the Delhi Police and observed that it was the reason Delhi was being called the crime capital of India.
Its unprofessionalism has now caused much embarrassment to the agency in most of the cases against Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs — and it has received reprimand in the court of law for wrongfully arresting the ruling party’s legislators.
Delhi Police is biased and politically motivated. And this becomes clear when we take a look at two cases which were registered in Delhi on February 20, 2018.
The first was filed upon the complaint of Anshu Prakash, the chief secretary of Delhi, while the second by Delhi minister Imran Hussain. In one case, the CM’s house was raided, two MLAs arrested and now the chief minister, Arvind Kejriwal, will be questioned on Friday, May 18. In the second case, lodged following a complaint by minister Imran Hussain — which was supported by video evidence — hardly any action was taken. The chief secretary of Delhi is among those accused in the complaint.
However, the police has not even included the bureaucrat’s name in the FIR, let alone move any further in the case.
Allegations without proof
On February 20, 2018, at dawn, reporters covering crime and Delhi government were fed with a big breaking story. They received a message on their WhatsApp that the preceding night, the chief secretary of Delhi was manhandled by AAP MLAs during a meeting at the chief minister’s residence, in his presence. A complaint was filed by the chief secretary around 10.15am on February 20 and an FIR lodged at 1pm by the Delhi Police.
Even though there was no evidence and just a complaint, as expected, the police acted as swiftly as it could and questioned the MLAs and officers working with the chief minister, the CM’s house was raided and two AAP MLAs arrested. The legislators, however, got bail from the court.
Now, the Delhi Police has served a notice to the chief minister, seeking to question him on Friday, May 18.
Thrashed on tape
On the very day the story of the chief secretary purportedly being manhandled was planted, a mob — claiming to be officers — took over the Delhi Secretariat in full view of the Delhi Police. They were seen assembling on the second floor of the secretariat around 11-11.30pm and were later joined by another lot which came down to the second floor, post a meeting over the issue.
The mob was first addressed by some so called “officers”. Their speeches were quite provocative. Soon after the series of sermons came to an end, sloganeering started — these, too, were incendiary in nature. This was captured on tape and reported by the media.
Around noon, minister Imran Hussain was entering the Delhi Secretariat with his colleagues. First, he was mobbed by the 400-strong “officers” and then he and his colleagues were roughed up. This, too, was caught on camera.
A complaint was made to the police and an FIR lodged — and even the video evidence was submitted to the Delhi Police. However, hardly has any action been taken. One of the accused, Ravindar Parmar, was arrested after a non-bailable warrant was issued, but was granted bail within minutes! It was all just an eyewash a day before CM was to be questioned.
The chief secretary, who has been named as an accused in the complaint, has faced no action yet. His name has not even been included in the FIR.
He has been named as a conspirator by Imran Hussain as some of those who attacked the minister had come allegedly out of the chief secretary’s room before the attack.
However, action against the bureaucrat is hardly expected and there is a reason to it.
Double standards
The police in Delhi doesn’t report to the elected Delhi government, but to the ministry of home affairs, through the lieutenant-governor. The chief secretary yields influence over Delhi Police since he is the one who writes the annual report of the force’s top brass.
In such a scenario, how can the Delhi Police act against the chief secretary? And why won’t they act in a biased manner against the elected government and the Aam Aadmi party (AAP)?
It’s very simple, everyone follows the boss.
What makes it amply clear is a confidential letter that has made it to the public domain, from the special secretary of L-G to the Commissioner of Police of Delhi. The letter shows L-G’s unhappiness at the several cases filed against AAP MLAs falling flat in the courts. It also indicates that the Delhi L-G was unhappy at the Delhi Police’s “lacklustre” investigation. Such a letter from someone holding a constitutional post is shameful.
But it makes it clear why and how the Delhi Police adopts double standards when it comes to the CM, his Cabinet colleagues or functionaries of the Aam Aadmi Party.
The questioning of the Delhi chief minister is nothing but a witch-hunt by the central government through its agencies. The popularity of the AAP government and chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has always been a matter of concern for the BJP and is another attempt to demoralise the party and malign the CM.
However, the Centre as well as the ruling party BJP will once again fail in their agenda like they have numerous times before — and it will further strengthen the faith of the people in their chief minister.
(The writer is a functionary of the Aam Aadmi Party.)