File photo: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal with supporters near the Rail Bhavan during his party's protest
Retired senior Delhi Police Commissioner Ved Marwah has slammed
Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party for staging a dharna seeking action against five policemen, contending that such a move would be "counterproductive", and lead to "demoralisation within the force".
"It is terrible. It will be counterproductive, and lead to demoralisation among the police force. Police has a disciplined force where it follows a command and control system. You can punish a chap by all means, but do it through a proper system. You can't hold a dharna and demand suspension," Mr Marwah, who, post-retirement, went on to become the Governor of Manipur and Jharkhand, told NDTV's
Left, Right and Centre programme. (
Watch)
Mr Marwah was referring to the two-day-long sit-in organised by the Delhi chief minister and his six ministerial colleagues to press for the removal of five local police officials. The AAP-sponsored protest was called off last evening after an appeal from Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung, who acts as the interface between the Centre and the Delhi government. In an attempt to mollify Mr Kejriwal and offer him a face-saver, two junior level cops were sent on leave.
Another former Delhi police official Kiran Bedi, too, came down heavily on the AAP leaders, describing their protest as "political", and accused them of indulging in doublespeak.
"You want police reforms at the cost of police. It is the same Arvind Kejriwal and Prashant Bhushan who were demanding the insulation of Delhi Police from political interference. And now you are wanting them to decide the suspension and transfers. Where is the insulation?" argued Mrs Bedi. She was participating in NDTV's
The Buck Stops Here.
She contrasted the AAP government's stand on the control of Delhi, and the party's demand for granting complete autonomy to the country's premier investigating agency, the CBI.