High-handedness in Delhi

Arvind Kejriwal’s frequent attacks on Prime Minister Modi may have lost part of the effect and may be tiring even for his admirers, yet this persistent display of police partiality in dealing with cases and complaints relating to AAP legislators cannot be without a green signal from the very top. In the Delhi constitutional arrangement the police is under the Centre and there is little doubt that it has been used on more than one occasion for furthering the political agenda of the ruling BJP. The biased handling of the JNU protest and the subsequent accommodation of the then police chief, BS Bassi, in the UPSC confirm the charge that it pays to work for the party.  

In the latest AAP-BJP battle lodging an FIR is the weapon frequently used. AAP has demanded one against Lieut-Governor Najib Jung for his alleged role in the murder of an NDMC official. The police has responded with an FIR against Kejriwal for keeping the Rs 400-crore water tanker scam report under the wraps. If inaction on a corruption case report becomes a criminal offence, many chief ministers and ministers would land in trouble. The highhanded manner in which AAP lawmaker Dinesh Mohaniya was arrested during a press conference reminded one of a similar show of arrogance during the arrest of Law Minister Tomar in June 2015. The police has to be civil with everyone and follow the laid down procedure. If it acts otherwise, it cannot be without the blessings of Najib Jung and his political masters.  

It is not that Modi wishes to show zero tolerance towards violations of the law or set higher standards of conduct for people's representatives. His own party and government are tainted. Union minister Nihalchand Meghwal has been accused of rape. BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj faces murder and rape charges. Ninety-eight of the 281 BJP MPs have criminal cases pending against them. This is not to condone illegalities, if any, by AAP legislators but the law must be implemented fairly, equally and impartially for all.