You are on page 1of 2

An Open Letter to LG from AAP Delhi Convenor

To,
The Lieutenant Governor
Government of NCT of Delhi
Respected Najeeb Jung ji,
The happenings of last weeks prompted me to write this open letter to you. While you have been extremely
courteous and graceful in person as a host, our recent fracas or clash as our friends in the media like to
term it, made me think about the relationship between the center and state; the democratically elected
government and the executive arm; and topically, the relationship of the political representatives of a city,
state or country and its nominal head in whom the Constitution vests the executive powers of the Governor.
Scandalous and jarring headlines have dominated news headlines on almost every channel in the country,
and rather curiously, many have been about the AamAadmi Party. While our struggle for political revolution
may take many shapes, hues and fronts of engagement, and those will be perceived and attacked by
politicians, business interests and the media in various ways, I was particularly dismayed by the events of
last week.
The week before last, the AamAadmi Party Delhi Government led by Chief Minister ArvindKejriwal had sent
to you a plan to utilize 4,000 Home Guards as bus marshals in an effort to bolster womens security. Our
partys struggle for full statehood for Delhi is something we will fight for; however, this matter didnt concern
any of the issues related to Public Order, Police or Land i.e. Entries 1,2 and 18 of the State List and Entries
64, 65 and 66 of that List in so far as they relate to the said Entries 1, 2 and 18. This was an issue where
Center-State relations werent in question nor were you in the crossfire or necessarily required to be a proxy
of the BJP-led Central Government. And yet, this was underused or rejected by you immediately.
The Delhi Home Guard is 10,285 strong defence force, who despite their training, are currently used by
senior bureaucrats, officers, officials, past MLAs and MPs as cooks, servants and drivers). Their services
are already paid for and their usage needs to be for the people, instead of officers and elected
representatives sitting in their ivory towers. This will lead to greater social outcomes and restore dignity to
their lives as well. Our move to make these defence force personnel into bus marshals was our attempt to
deliver security in Delhi, despite not having the Police under the city-states democratically elected
government. And yet, you initially refused to accede to this proposal and heed to our demands.
In this light, the AamAadmi Party, which exercises the moral political authority to represent the issues of the
people of Delhi, after winning 95% seats in an unprecedented democratic mandate, requested you meetings
on a daily basis for days on end. And yet, you didnt have time to meet us even for a bit. This was extremely
disheartening. In states like Chhatisgarh or Uttar Pradesh, where the AamAadmi Party has no political or
legislative presence, the Governors have given us appointments to share our point of view and suggestions
on state governance immediately. So it is in fact shocking that we, the Delhi AAP Unit, didnt even get the
chance to present our views to you or plead our case for you to accept this proposal; a plea that shouldnt
have even been needed, while we have seen member of opposition meeting you comfortably (I dont mind
this, by the way). In fact, I fondly remember one more incident wherein 2 of our women MLAs, RakhiBidlan
and AlkaLamba, sought time from your office to meet when a woman was beaten up badly in Mangolepuri,
but that request also not granted by you.
To remind you, one of the founding principles of the AamAamAadmi Party has been to espouse the cause of
womens upliftment, empowerment, safety and security: not just of their physical self but of their mental,
spiritual, economic and social identity as well. This is something, which is closest to the heart of AamAadmi
Party. The Constitution of India not only grants equality to women but also empowers the State to adopt
measures of positive discrimination in favour of women best articulated in the Fundamental Rights which
ensures equality and equal protection before the law; prohibits discrimination on grounds of religion, race,
caste, sex or place of birth, and guarantees equality of opportunity.
Unfortunately, due to multiple reasons of non-accountability, mis-governance, inefficiency, malfeasance in
political bodies, the Delhi Police has been unable to provide effective womens safety and security for the
citizens of Delhi.

According to Delhi Police Statistics Report for year ending 2014, there were 1.47 lakh police cases in 2014.
This is almost 2 times the number in 2013 and 3 times that in 2012. The number of rape cases rose from
1571 in 2013 to 2069 in 2014. Molestation cases grew from 3345 to 4179.
We understand that higher frequency of police case reporting and citizens who have learnt to speak up for
their rights exercising their rights more boldly is one explanation for this steep rise in statistics; it cant be the
only one. Delhi has become an unsafe city for women and the Central Government, which has control over
the Delhi Police, has done nothing about it. Thus, this request by our party to accept the policy proposal of
the Delhi Government was neither irrational nor untenable.
When we failed to convince you how important is this women issue, we had to raise our voices in
mainstream and social media. This perhaps made you think we were right at first place and then you acted
by releasing Home-gaurds in phased manner. It is our belief that you should support pro-people policy when
it comes at your doorstep for approval. You are on a Constitutional position of the Delhi government and it is
imperative that you listen to the views of its citizens directly and indirectly through its political
representatives.
We hope that our past ideological and political disagreements dont result in your taking an anti-woman, antipeople decision, which clearly are screaming for greater security from the Delhi Government. We respect
you and the position that you occupy immensely, but we place the well-being of Delhis citizens and its
women supreme. It is our sincere hope that a week like the one passed by never happens again.
Now, it seems, again the office of LG is being used as political tool in hands of Center Government, by
unconstitutionally appointing Mr MK Meena to a position that does even exist in charter of Anti-corruption
Branch (ACB), which isnt just illegal but contempt of honorable court. Dear Sir! The honorable court has
clarified many times in past that the ACB doesnt report to LG but the elected Government of NCT Delhi
(GNCTD). I am sure you would be able to recall when order of FIR by previous Govt of Delhi was challenged
in court, honorable court quashed the challenge on 20 May, 2014, and ruled that FIR is valid. Again on 25
May, 2014, the same fact is reiterated by honorable court. Even if it is not about jurisdiction of ACB but
appointment, then too, court has ordered an interim arrangement, to take Presidents approval in case of
non-agreement on any transfer postings. But, you failed to respect this court order too. Sir! It seems you
took this decision in hurry, at a time, when th rumors were up in the air that your role in CNG Fitness Scam
suspicious. I strongly believe the truth need not to worry any probe. You should have challenged all those
allegations. In spite, you appointed a person whose track record isnt clean. ACB had already received a
complain about him involved in a Hawala Racket and also recently, in a curtain.
I am sorry to say this, but such a person with corruption charges, can be anything in the world butthe
(forced) head Anti-corruption Branch. I am also hearing lot many more cases going to pop up in coming
days. Now, look at the developments, before MrMeena joined, 36 people sent behind bars, and more than
150 suspended, while in last one month, since MrMeena has joined, not a single FIR registered.
This says everything. Dont you think, LG Office is being used as political mean, to dilute strong anticorruption efforts in Delhi? And to our surprise, MrMeens seems to be interested only in cases related to him
and Delhi Police. He too doesnt bother about women security, bribery etc. Why does he need to have
control of only Delhi Police related files? Who has asked him to do so? Who has asked to threaten the ACB
Chief Mr SS Yadav? Who has asked him to try his best to fail Kejriwal government on anti-corruption front?
Unfortunately, such malicious efforts will never succeed. This government is result of collective of
consciousness of Delhites to uproot corruption from Delhi and has got a life and blessing of its own.
We hope that you will help with the effective implementation of pro-people, pro-women and anti-corruption
plans and help the AamAadmi Party and its Delhi Government take the first step in creating a carefully
crafted set of policies and affirmative action that when combined with continuous efforts to change traditional
political mindsets of established political class and attitudes in governance at all levels, which can help
create a Delhi wherein everyone, includingwomen, can be proud, comfortable and happy of. We will come
again soon on the issue of the implementation of the JS Verma Committee Report and Vishakha guidelines
soon. We will ask for your time in advance to discuss other ideas and manifesto promises of AamAadmi
Party to citizen of Delhi, and to seek your cooperation and guidance on same.
In anticipation of a positive, constructive reply,
Regards,
Dilip Pandey
Convenor, Delhi State Unit.

You might also like