‘Mandating license to install CCTV will increase bribery’

Ananya Panda

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 11

Amid an intensifying power battle in the capital, CM Arvind Kejriwal today claimed that LG-appointed panel’s recommendation for private or government bodies to obtain “mandatory permission” or license from police to install CCTV cameras in the capital would increase “bribery”.

An anguished Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government claimed LG’s “unlawful control” over services is preventing it to take action against defiant officers, who are “openly turning down” government’s decisions and “shuttling files” of major initiatives to deliberately delay the implementation.

The latest issues that escalated the war between the Delhi government and the Centre are CCTV cameras installation, doorstep delivery of ration and 20 per cent performance bonus to daily-wage earners in the capital.

“All existing CCTVs will also need police license. Height of license Raj in 21st century. What will police see before giving CCTV license? On what basis will police give license? It will only increase bribery. Its a huge blow to women safety becoz all existing cameras in Del will have to be removed (sic),” Kejriwal tweeted stating nowhere in the world such a licensing is required.

His deputy Manish Sisodia came down heavily on the BJP-led Centre claiming the SC ruling is being arbitrarily interpreted by it to further derail the Delhi government’s work through officers. “Despite the SC ruling that services is a transferred subject the BJP is keeping it under the reserved category. This is sending a wrong message that you (Delhi government) keep taking decisions but we (Centre) will not let them be implemented as services is with us. Question arises why the LG is insisting?” Sisodia asked.

“Suspicion arises when the government is trying to check corruption in ration delivery, why is the BJP and the Centre through the LG and officers hell-bent to stall the government’s work? On doorstep delivery of ration, the Food Commissioner is objecting saying the Law Department needs to be consulted,” Sisodia added.

“Yesterday a meeting of the DSIIDC Board, chaired by the minister, was held in which a decision regarding payment of 20 per cent performance bonus to daily wage earners taken in December earlier by its government was turned down (by the officers),” Sisodia added noting another instance where the Centre is intervening to scuttle the Delhi government's work.

In the evening, the Delhi CM met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to discuss the situation arising out of the Supreme Court’s July 4 judgment on the power sharing between the AAP government and the Centre. On the CCTV cameras issue, Kejriwal after his meeting said, he apprised Singh about the “strange interpretation and selective implementation” of the SC verdict by the LG. Singh, who will be away from Delhi for three days, is understood to have wanted to discuss the matter with his officers and meet Kejriwal on July 16.

In May, Baijal had set up a six-member committee to regulate the installation of CCTV cameras in city’s private and government buildings.