War on CCTV project continues: CM, colleagues march to Raj Niwas

Ananya Panda

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 14

Accusing LG Anil Baijal and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of indulging in “dirty politics” on CCTV project, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today questioned Baijal’s “motives” over the contentious panel constituted by him for designing SOPs and regulatory framework for CCTV installation and monitoring saying he didn’t set up a similar committee when the MCD, NDMC, Delhi Metro and police installed 2 lakh CCTV cameras in the city last year.

After a march to Baijal’s office to put pressure on him for allowing the execution of the project by him, his ministerial colleagues and MLAs failed to yield the desired results, Kejriwal addressing reporters said the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government will reach out to people of Delhi on how the LG set up a committee bypassing the elected government to scuttle the CCTV project.

Kejriwal alleged the BJP is stalling his government’s CCTV project through the LG and urged Baijal “not to succumb” to BJP’s pressures for ensuring safety of women in the capital. “People questioning your motives... (sic),” Kejriwal tweeted.

However, Baijal countered saying even as he offered to meet the Delhi CM, his cabinet colleagues and MP Sushil Gupta to discuss the issue, Kejriwal and his delegation “refused to meet” him and preferred to sit on protest to “mislead” the people of the capital.

The LG stated that no instructions have been given to stall or stop the tendering for installation of CCTV and it is his own cabinet that is yet to consider the departmental proposal for CCTV.

“It is only after cabinet approval that such proposals are sent to the LG and in this case no such approval has been accorded by the Council of Ministers and sent to the LG for his consideration,” added Baijal who had yesterday said his office had not received any proposal on CCTVs from the government.

The AAP dispensation refused to buy the clarification of the LG. Kejriwal shared the communication received by his office from the NDMC regarding discontinuing the pilot project of CCTV cameras in his New Delhi Assembly constituency in the backdrop of recent developments, including setting up of the panel by LG, on the issue.

“NDMC was successfully installing CCTV cameras in residential colonies for last 2 years. In view of LG’s committee, NDMC stops further installation of cameras. Extremely unfortunate. Whatever good work was going on has been stopped. Dirty politics being played with women safety,” tweeted Kejriwal.