Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said he, his Cabinet and all Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs would go to Lieutenant-Governor Anil Baijal’s residence on Monday to push for the ongoing CCTV cameras project.
“All ministers and MLAs will walk upto LG house from my residence on Monday at 3 pm to urge Hon’ble LG not to follow BJP’s directions and to allow CCTV cameras to be installed all over Delhi to strengthen women security. [sic],” Mr. Kejriwal said in a tweet.
The Delhi government’s project to install 1.4 lakh CCTV cameras had been initiated, the contract awarded and the work order was supposed to be issued when the L-G on Tuesday ordered the setting up of a committee to formulate a framework, said Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.
The L-G had ordered the committee to formulate a standard operating procedure for installation, operation and maintenance of CCTV cameras. The committee, headed by principal secretary (Home Department), held its first meeting on Friday and is expected to give its report within a month.
‘Delaying tactic’
The AAP dispensation, however, termed the formation of the committee a delaying tactic by the L-G and the BJP-ruled Central government. “The L-G didn’t say anything for three years. Now, after the tender process had been done, he suddenly forms a committee,” said Mr. Sisodia, adding that he had written to Mr. Baijal informing him of the Cabinet and MLAs intention to visit on Monday.
Meanwhile, the Congress, which has accused the AAP government of corruption in the CCTV project, on Saturday said Mr. Sisodia was trying to divert attention. Congress leader and former Delhi Minister Arvinder Singh said that instead of trying to clear the air on the corruption charge, Mr. Sisodia had blamed the L-G and Opposition parties for trying to stall the work.
