Delhi’s Civil Defence Volunteers act more like AAP’s goons than Civil Defence workers

A cardinal rule of success in today’s world is ‘fake it till you make it’. Delhi’s Civil Defence Volunteers(CDV) seem to have perfected this formula as their behaviour towards citizens is reminiscent of AAP’s goons, which looks like their honest attempt to get into the ranks of Arvind Kejriwal’s party.

Uncivilised Civil Defence Volunteers demolish the holy Chhath Ghats

Recently a video went viral in which a devotee engaged in doing Chhath Puja is seen cursing Arvind Kejriwal’s government. A closer listen to the lady’s outburst revealed that she and her family were fed up with the attitude, impoliteness, and hitleresque behaviour of Civil Defence volunteers deployed by the Delhi government administration. The CDVs had demolished ghats built with hard labour and time-consuming effort by devotees to offer their prayers to the Bhagwan Surya.

Gundagardi in the name of civilising people has become a trademark sign of CDVs

This is not the first time that Mr Arvind Kejriwal headed government has handed over the responsibility of civilising citizens to non-civilised goondas. These volunteers have been in news for quite some time now. Their misdemeanours during the corona period are not hidden from the purview of the people of Delhi. In spite of not having any power to issue challan, stop traffic, use police barricades and various other permissions handed only to the Delhi Police, these volunteers have been misusing their power left, right, and centre.

• In April 2021, a full-blown fistfight erupted between the general public and these goon-type volunteers near IIT-Delhi, when a CDV beat a driver with the belt for not wearing the mask.

• In October 2021, a former CDV was arrested by the police for being actively involved in the serial robbery case.

• On November 8, 2021, an active CDV was arrested by the special staff of Delhi Police for an alleged murder attempt.

Speaking at a conference, senior BJP leader Vijay Goel had asked for the government’s intervention to stop the Gundagaraaj by CDV. Similar demands have been made by Congress leaders as well. Delhi Police commissioner had already directed his troops to check the excesses of power used by these CDVs.

Citizens are fed up with continuous disturbances by CDVs

These volunteers have become a bone of contention for the citizens residing in the capital. They are appointed by the Delhi government for handling various daily life problems of the commuters and citizens. The benchmark criteria for appointing them is extremely low as anyone who has basic education can apply. Most of these volunteers have studied till class 8th and are hungry for power. When the government handles them the uniform which looks similar to the police uniform, they foolishly start to behave like a ‘Singham’ style rowdy officer. 

While their official duty is mainly limited to assisting police and the district administration in issuing challans and other minor stuff to reduce their workload; they often cross their limits and go on a full-blooded gundabaazi to show people that they are in a position of power.

CDVs seem to be egoistic appointments by the Kejriwal administration

It is ridiculous when in spite of having trained officers and personals of Delhi Police, home guards, CISF, CRPF available for performing their duty, the AAP government relies on these anarchists to assist them. Arvind Kejriwal’s ego battle with the central government may have an active role in CDV’s deployment. Since all other forces are managed by the Modi government in the centre, it is entirely possible that Arvind Kejriwal also wants to do some chest-thumping by deploying them to maintain law and order in the city.

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After looking at so much bonhomie between the Kejriwal government and these civil volunteers, the people of Delhi are confused. They do not know who is at the top of the government’s priority list, citizens or these volunteers. No one understands why they are acting like Police when Police are already in the city to check any mishappenings. The recruitment of these volunteers seems like an intentional perversion of the law and order machinery of the state. If the AAP government cares for the people of the state, they should be thrown out as soon as possible.