Arvind Kejriwal's letter to PM Modi
Through an open letter published in major newspapers today, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to either spare some time for law and order in the capital, or turn over the control of Delhi Police to him.
The letters focus on the brutal killing of a 19-year-old girl in west Delhi last week; she was stabbed multiple times, allegedly because she had filed a sexual harassment case against her neighbor. The incident has been seized by Mr Kejriwal and his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as the reason why the Delhi Police should come under the city government, not the Centre.
"I have a small, humble request. Either you devote at least one hour a week to Delhi's law and order situation, fix accountability for the Delhi Police and interact with the people of Delhi - or give us the control of Delhi Police," Mr Kejriwal said in his "Appeal to the Prime Minister."
He reminded PM Modi that "Delhi police comes under you...And you are not able to give it any time because you are the country's PM."
Mr Kejriwal also urged the prime minister to post police personnel at West Delhi's Anand Parbat area, where the girl was stabbed, saying "people there are very scared".
The Chief Minister's meeting with Delhi Police Chief BS Bassi yesterday took place in less than friendly circumstances, with sharp words from both sides.
Mr Kejriwal had asked Mr Bassi to come with information on pending cases of crimes against women and beat constables across Delhi, but sources in his party allege that the police chief refused to furnish these details.
The police chief told reporters later that his force is investigating the case and could not reveal any information. "If there are expectations that are not within the purview of law, or are based on ignorance of rules, those expectations cannot be met," Mr Bassi said.
In a second open letter, Mr Kejriwal noted that when the girl was being stabbed, no one stepped in to help.