It is introspection time for team BJP, especially how it is going to govern Delhi. The high court had already made it clear that Delhi police would continue to be in the control of LG. Whether BJP and Union ministry accepts it or not, in the eyes of citizens Najeeb Jung, whom Arvind Kejriwal transformed into Ajeeb Jung), is the man responsible for the actions of Delhi Police and law and order in the state or city of Delhi.
Arvind might have failed in providing governance – good or bad to his electorate. Arvind is responsible for many things varying from the dengue/chicken-gunya to worsening pollution. But, it is time for LG to pull up his socks and take the responsibility for the actions of Delhi Police. Like police everywhere from America to Andhra, Delhi Police is also efficient at will and indifferent in general.
If Uttar Pradesh police could maintain law and order during Mayawati, but retreated into barracks in the wake of onslaught of goons during the Akhilesh’s rule speaks a lot about – the intentions, if not priorities of the government. It is the police that allowed terrorism to thrive in Punjab, but contained – when the government told them to. Kidnapping, a lucrative vocation that thrived under Laloo Prasad Yadav was curbed by the coalition government of Janta Dal United and BJP. If Hyderabad had witnessed communal riots like a seasonal sport during Congress rule, when NT Rama Rao empowered Police, the city became riot free. When the Naxalite movement was crushed by Chandrababu Naidu in the recent past, literally forcing all Naxals fleeing from Andhra Pradesh, Rajasekhara Reddy’s negotiations allowed them to regroup and fortify in the state. If the traffic constable in Delhi demands ‘bribe’ by shouting at people, Mumbai police talk sweetly into greasing their palms. Well, the above examples are only to explain that the way police functions define the mark of the government.
Two recent incidents happened in Delhi have thrown light on the way the Delhi government functions, i.e., the part of government controlled by Lieutenant General. In the first instance, Rahul Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal’s alleged detention by the police in the aftermath of suicide by an army veteran Ram Kishan Grewal. Notwithstanding the reasons of the suicide, it was a loss of life – of a former soldier, irrespective of his political affiliations. Considering there is no scope for the opposition to corner on the matters of governance for there were no scams unlike in the good old days of UPA rule, if BJP expects the opposition not to politicize the suicide, it only affirms how naïve they are. It is now a well-established fact that both Rahul and Arvind would go to any length to criticize the government, without thinking their own BLACK record on any issue for which they are accountable.
Arvind was live tweeting his detention and transfer to unknown locations by Delhi Police. His comrade in arms, Manish Sisodia allowed himself to be taken into custody by the police, along with his supporters. Rahul Gandhi played to the galleries from within the walls of a police station, enacting the famous ‘Vijay Dinanadh Chouhan’ character. Of course, there are many incidents that would expose both Arvind and Rahul. Arvind allowed Gajendra Singh to ‘perform’ suicide in his presence and die. And Rahul’s inaction during the Anna movement and during the Nirbhaya protests is legendary. Yet, they have the guts to question Modi government, which was the first government to accept the demand for OROP that was pending with many governments for more than four decades. But, this was what one can expect from both leaders. Feigning ignorance on atrocities they commit and hide under the garb of higher morality to question others.
This, however is not the point. Why BJP allowed Delhi police to detain Arvind and Rahul and others, especially the family members of Grewal?
Another incident happened yesterday when police detained JNU students protesting the inability of Delhi police to locate Najeeb Ahmed, who was missing for more than a month. Apparently, mother of Najeeb Ahmed was also detained.
Depender Pathak, JCP of Delhi police claims Fatima Nafees, Najeeb’s mother refused to enter into the bus and lay down in the middle of the road. She was lifted by women constables to prevent any injury to her during the protests and police action. And he was correct.
To be frank, I don’t blame Fatima Nafees. She was just responding like any mother would do in such a situation. There may be forces that try to gain political mileage or settle some old scores with the administration of BJP. There may be hypocrisy in the ‘protests’ by the students, for they fail to orchestrate similar kind of protests when the victims doesn’t belong to same party or religion or caste to which they were affiliated to.
The number of missing persons from West Bengal during the Marxist rule could not even be officially verified. And no action was taken on the Marxist leader from Kerala, who said ‘political killings’ were simply a tool to further the doctrine. But, it is the way they work. They execute their policies. This is the way how the so called intellectuals of the society, who at the age of thirty still eat off the taxes paid by those working hard, by doing research in so many unrelated topics and preach morality!
But, the question is why BJP is so naïve in anticipating these issues and why there was no proper instructions to the police in how to contain the situation.
The Delhi police, administered by Najeeb Jung only could make a hero out of Kanhaiya Kumar. And despite so many videos, claims and counter claims, cases against Kanhaiya Kumar and others would never be seeing their logical conclusions.
It is high time for BJP, if it wishes to run the Delhi administration through LG, to formulate a policy on how the government-in-proxy could work well for the people of Delhi. It is of no use blaming Arvind Kejriwal as he would remain like this for the rest of his tenure. And the more BJP blames Arvind, the more it would turn like him. By controlling the Municipal Corporation, BJP is responsible for the sanitation of the city. With LG being responsible for the general administration also, the advisory council to LG i.e., the Delhi cabinet working against LG it appears the lives of Delhi people are really in jeopardy.
The failure of Delhi police had become a national embarrassment for the party that was otherwise known for good administration. Maybe it is time for the Union government to revisit the necessity of having an assembly for the city. Apparently, those who crafted the state of Delhi had not envisaged of the emergence of Arvind Kejriwal type of politicians. With the MCD being responsible for most of the requirements of its citizens, may be a regular administrator reporting to the Home ministry minus the assembly can run the city better. Meanwhile, BJP should refocus its priorities and let the Police not ‘create’ any situations by not acting in time. They may allocate Delhi administration to someone in the Union Cabinet, who can be directly responsible for the general administration.