New Delhi (Agency): In the wake of a recent robbery, a war of words has erupted between Delhi’s Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Union Minister Meenakashi Lekhi, both exchanging barbs over Delhi’s escalating law and order situation. As the city prepares to host the forthcoming G20 Summit, the controversial incident has laid bare a divisive debate regarding control over Delhi’s security affairs.
On Tuesday, Chief Minister Kejriwal lambasted the Central Government and the Lieutenant Governor for what he described as a disturbing rise in lawlessness. Drawing upon a robbery incident in the Pragati Maidan tunnel, Kejriwal controversially claimed a state of “jungle raj” was descending upon the capital. In the incident, a delivery agent and his associate were allegedly relieved of Rs 2 lakh at gunpoint by four motorcyclists, with five arrests made thus far.
“If the AAP government is given the charge of law and order, it will make Delhi the ‘safest city’ in the country,” stated Kejriwal during a press interaction at an event to inaugurate new electric vehicle charging stations. He further expressed his concerns over the Centre’s apparent lack of a robust plan to address the deteriorating law and order situation, leaving the city’s inhabitants feeling insecure.
However, Union Minister Meenakashi Lekhi was quick to rebut Kejriwal’s allegations, stating his desire for law and order control merely aimed “to protect his corrupt ministers and MLAs.”
In a swift exchange of incriminations last week, Kejriwal and Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena publically laid blame on each other for the city’s deteriorating safety situation. Kejriwal accused the Lieutenant Governor of intentionally disrupting the AAP government’s operations, citing this interference as the root cause behind the city’s security issues.
“They are thinking about how to stop our schools, mohalla clinics, water supply, and electricity. I request them to allow us to do our work and they should focus on their work,” Kejriwal stated passionately, appealing for the responsibility of law and order in Delhi to be passed on to his government.
Responding to Kejriwal’s request, Union Minister Lekhi retorted, “Arvind Kejriwal is running a government where the (former) deputy chief minister (Manish Sisodia) is in jail for corruption. His (former) minister Satyendar Jain has recently come out on bail.”
Lekhi’s comments served to highlight multiple corruption charges against AAP’s members, concluding that the reason for Kejriwal’s wish to assume law and order control is to “protect all these criminals.”
As the city readies itself for the G20 Summit, the tension between the AAP-led Delhi Government and the Central Government underscores the complex politics of the national capital.
