Standoff after suicide

Arvind Kejriwal has apologised for continuing the AAP rally after farmer Gajendra Singh hanged himself from a tree on Wednesday. The Delhi Chief Minister and other AAP leaders came deservedly under fire for the insensitivity they displayed. They have attempted damage control by announcing - in addition to an apology — Rs 10 lakh relief for the family of the Rajasthan farmer as well as a magisterial inquiry into the suicide. Since the AAP leaders have blamed the police for mishandling the situation, the inquiry ordered by their government in Delhi may rely on their version of the incident since the District Magistrate works under the Delhi government. Even if it is a fair and impartial inquiry, doubts would persist.
There is a police version of Wednesday’s incident which is contrary to that of AAP. In the FIR the police have charged AAP workers with abetment to suicide, stoping a civil servant from doing his duty and criminal conspiracy. Since the Modi government has been at the receiving end of farmers' anger, thanks to the Opposition projection of it as pro-business, BJP spokespersons have tried to shift the farmer ire towards AAP leaders. Home Minister Rajnath Singh voiced the Delhi Police version in Parliament. Given the contradictory versions, the Congress has asked for a judicial inquiry.
The standoff between the police and the District Magistrate or the BJP government and the AAP government raises the larger question of jurisdiction, especially the issue of control over the police. It is pathetic to see the police not listening to a Chief Minister or representatives of the two governments working at cross purposes. While the Centre can retain control over VVIP security and other related issues apart from matters on the Central list, the state of Delhi definitely needs more powers. The present arrangement was working as long as the same party ruled in the state and at the Centre. Now the situation has changed. Given the prevalence of the competitive and acrimonious politics, it is time to revisit the division of powers between Delhi and the Centre, at least for promoting “cooperative federalism”.