Delhi CM Kejriwal tearing up report on CCTVs a political gimmick, says Opposition

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday tore a report on CCTVs prepared by a special committee constituted by the L-G and said that his government would start installing the cameras without a licence from the Delhi police.

Lieutenant governor Anil Baijal’s office issued a statement on Sunday evening saying that some misconception was being spread about the draft rules for regulation of installation of CCTVs after chief minister Arvind Kejriwal tore a copy of the draft rules and said the government was going to go ahead with the cameras without seeking licences. The Opposition too criticised the chief minister’s “mega meet” and called his act of tearing the report a “political gimmick”.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal speaks during an interactive session with RWAs, markets associations and general public for installation of CCTVs in the national capital, in New Delhi on Sunday, July 29, 2018. (Burhaan Kinu/HT PHOTO)

“It is reiterated that the draft rules put out for public suggestions/objections/feedback by the committee have only prescribed a reporting mechanism not a licensing mechanism....The rules have been put out in public domain for suggestions so that a proper framework for installation of CCTV in the city can be evolved,” the statement said.

The L-G office said that in the past there have been instances of misuse of CCTVs for intrusion and for invading the privacy of individuals and stressed the need for a framework for installing and operating the cameras.

Kejriwal, late on Sunday night, replied to L-G in a tweet and said “Sir, we r not putting cameras in people’s bedrooms. I fail to understand what purpose wud be served by making police license mandatory for CCTV cameras?(sic).”

Leader of opposition at Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupta too said that tearing the draft report was a “political gimmick” and the meeting was a “political rally”.

“In the last three-and-a-half years, the government has failed to govern and not delivered promises like WiFi, Lokpal, Swaraj Bill or CCTV. On one hand Kejriwal tears the draft report but on the other hand Satyendar Jain writes to L-G to extend the last date seeking comments on the report,” he said.

East Delhi RWAs Joint Front, president, BS Vohra said that the event seemed like a”political rally.” Vohra said volunteers were ferried in buses from different areas.

“The CM just spoke what he wanted. There was no one to one communication with RWA as what they wanted,” he said.