New Delhi: Delhi Police chief BS Bassi has warned against vigilantism and urged the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to keep its volunteers in check when the odd-even plan for cars begins in the New Year. In response, the ruling party has promised to cooperate with the police.
"AAP volunteers will fully cooperate with the police, they will not take the law into their hands," AAP leader Ashutosh said.
Mr Bassi had expressed concern on the Delhi government saying that AAP and civil defence volunteers would help Delhi traffic personnel implement the odd-even rule that comes into force in the New Year. "No matter how good the cause is, we can't let volunteers stop vehicles in running traffic. The law does not permit this and neither will we...No vigilantism will be tolerated," he had said.
Between January 1 and 15, odd and even numbered cars will be allowed on alternate days in an experiment to drastically reduce pollution in Delhi, which has reached a critical level. City Transport Minister Gopal Rai, reacting to concerns about the lack of police manpower, said that volunteers would check those who violated the rule.
Mr Bassi tweeted his reservations on Sunday.
The Delhi government has clashed several times with the police chief earlier over what it calls the deteriorating law and order situation in the capital and has demanded that control of the Delhi Police be turned over from the union home ministry to the state government.