On a day that the alleged rape and trafficking of a 25-year-old woman was reported from South Delhi, women’s safety in the Capital featured prominently during a meeting between Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Police Commissioner B.S. Bassi.
The marathon meeting between the police chief and the Chief Minister continued for nearly three hours. In the course of the meeting, which took place at the Delhi Police Headquarters on Friday evening, several issues concerning the safety and security of the Delhiites were discussed.
The Delhi Police made several presentations before Mr. Kejriwal to highlight the steps taken by them in the recent past and those in the pipeline.
Safety of women was raised as a major concern by Mr. Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party before it won the February 7 elections, and the State government will soon roll out several of its own initiatives to meet the goals they have set. For this, the government will require assistance from and coordination with the city’s law enforcing agency, which reports to the Union Home Ministry.
Mr. Kejriwal, who has been vocal about the need for the city police to come under the State, said after the meeting that it is more important for the government and police to work together towards the common cause of the interest of the people.
“In whichever way the Delhi Government can help the police, we will make sure we do. We will have to work together,” said Mr. Kejriwal. On whether he was satisfied with the presentations made during the meeting, he said he was “more than satisfied with what he saw”.
Mr. Bassi, too, reiterated the statements made by Mr. Kejriwal and said he was assured by the latter that the Delhi Police will receive all possible help from the State.
“We had a long discussion in addition to the presentations,” said Mr. Bassi.
