In an apparent move to end the standoff with the AAP Government in Delhi, the Home Ministry has requested the lieutenant-Governor to ensure expeditious probe into various cases of alleged police excesses and submit a report as early as possible.
Sources said the Home Ministry is awaiting the report of the judicial inquiry ordered into the various incidents of alleged police high handedness to take appropriate action following a demand by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his cabinet colleagues. The inquiry had been ordered by l-G Najeeb Jung after Kejriwal met him in this regard.
Two Delhi Ministers, Somnath Bharti and Rakhi Birla, have accused three police officials of non-cooperation in two separate cases. The Home Ministry’s move is viewed as an apparent step to defuse the situation arising out of Kejriwal’s stir. Earlier in the day, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde ruled out any action against Delhi Police personnel till an inquiry is over. Talking to reporters here on the sidelines of a function to mark
the raising day of National Investigation Agency (NIA), he also made it clear that the Centre will not hand over Delhi Police to the state government. Asked about dharna being led by Kejriwal, Shinde said, “He should maintain garima (dignity) of the chair of Chief Minister and wait till the judicial probe is completed. After all he is a Chief Minister...,(which is) a high post. He should cooperate.”