Home Minister Rajnath Singh Asks Delhi Police to Extend Full Support to AAP Government

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today asked the Delhi Police to work in close cooperation with Arvind Kejriwal's new Aam Aadmi Party government in the capital.

At the raising day parade of the Delhi Police, Mr Singh said, "I would like to remind you that a new government has been formed in Delhi. A new party has got the mandate and a new government is formed. I expect you to extend full cooperation to this newly-formed government so that it can pave the way for the city's development."

Delhi's Police Commissioner BS Bassi had reportedly invited Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his six-member Cabinet for the parade, but none of the ministers, who were at work for the first day after they took oath, attended.

The Delhi Police reports to the Centre and is the main reason that the new Aam Aadmi Party government has demanded full statehood for the capital. It wants control over law and order in the city; better security for women in Delhi is one of the key election promises of Mr Kejriwal's AAP.

Mr Kejriwal had met Rajnath Singh and also Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week to emphasise that he saw "a golden opportunity" for grant of full statehood to Delhi with majority governments both at the Centre and the state.

At the police parade Mr Singh reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision that states should be given every assistance rising above party lines in keeping with the spirit of "cooperative federalism".

Mr Singh said it was not just the people of Delhi, but even the Prime Minister who is worried about the rise of crime against women in the city.

Both the Home Minister and Bassi asked the media not to "read too much" into Mr Kejriwal skipping the parade.

"One should not read too much into the issue; it is a matter of privilege. You have to see the tradition, earlier too, the Cabinet did not attend this function. I am sure, he (Kejriwal) will attend tomorrow's 'At Home' function," said Mr Bassi.