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The recent clash between AAP supporters and the Delhi Police in Burari found an echo in the House on Tuesday with MLAs demanding that Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi be summoned to the Delhi Assembly and the Delhi Police be made accountable to the House. With police filing FIRs against AAP MLAs in the Burari clash, a collision between the government and the Centre-governed Delhi Police seems imminent in the coming days.
Police’s role in Delhi became the most debated issue in the House on Tuesday. The debate was initiated by Transport Minister Gopal Rai. “The way police behave with the poor is inhuman. The Delhi Police should be made accountable to the House,” the minister said.
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Rai’s speech was interrupted many a time by AAP MLAs as they rose to register their protest against the Delhi Police. Many demanded that Bassi be summoned by the Speaker.
Addressing the Speaker, Rai mentioned that not having law and order with the government would pose a problem. “Ensuring proper security will not be possible if we do not have control over police. When V K Malhotra was Leader of the Opposition, he had raised the issue. Now the Opposition should clarify its stand on Delhi being granted full statehood. To achieve the development map, we need land and for that we require full statehood,” Rai said.
Other AAP MLAs too chose to speak on Delhi Police. MLAs Kapil Mishra, Alka Lamba and Sanjeev Jha spoke on problems they were witnessing in their areas regarding the role of police.
“Things have gone too far. The House won’t remain be a silent spectator. Delhi Police Commissioner should be summoned,” one of the MLAs said.
Speaker Ram Niwas Goel said, “My family is a victim as far as women’s security is concerned. There is no family that has not suffered due to chain-snatching,” he said.
The BJP MLAs, meanwhile, see this move against Delhi Police as an attempt by AAP to divert attention from its promises. By invoking the full statehood issue, the AAP plans to deflect attention to the Centre, the BJP said.