Delhi Assembly on Monday passed a resolution to give martyr status to slain NDMC official MM Khan and also demanded a fair probe into the murder case.
The resolution was moved by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal himself while the family of MM Khan was also present on the Assembly premises. Kejriwal also said that the Government will give the cheque of Rs 1 crore to the family of the deceased in a few days.
However, before passing the resolution, the short duration discussion on the alleged negligence by police in investigating the murder case took a political turn when the MlAs of the BJP and the AAP indulged in a slinging match accusing each other of politicising a sensitive issue.
Khan’s family members, including his two daughters who were present in the House, broke down during the discussion.
The CM said the investigation into the case is “questionable” and if the investigation is not conducted properly, then faith in honesty will be lost.
“It is a misfortune of Delhi that police are not with the elected Government. If it was under us, then the killers of that honest man would have been arrested and we won’t have rested till they were hanged. We agree that the true culprits will be exposed after the probe, but at least let the probe be carried out. The CCTV footage of the incident has conspicuously disappeared and there has been no questioning of the man whose name has come up in the probe because he is close to the Home Minister,” he said referring to NDMC vice-chairman Karan Singh Tanwar.
It has been alleged that Tanwar had threatened MM Khan a few days before he was murdered.
“While the fair probe is not happening, this House is ready to do as much it can do and will refer the case to appropriate committee for examination. The financial condition of the family of the deceased is bad… the Delhi Government will give Rs 1 crore to the family as sammaan rashi (mark of respect). Also, while Deputy CM has already signed the file to give MM Khan the status of Shaheed (martyr), I propose that this House also pass a resolution to this effect so that it is recorded in history,” he added.
He further said the Central Government had also announced a compensation of Rs25 lakh which has yet not been paid. Responding to his statement, leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta retorted that the Delhi Government is also yet to pay the amount they had announced.
Gupta also said the Government is politicising the issue and it appears that the AAP MlAs instead of feeling the pain for the murdered honest official, they are more concerned about attacking their political opponents over the issue.
“The first priority should be that the mystery about the case is solved and the killers of MM Khan are brought to justice,” he said.
Earlier, AAP MlA Commando Surinder Singh alleged that NDMC vice-chairman Karan Singh Tanwar was somehow involved in the murder. AAP MlA Amanatullah Khan said it is the first time that a man was killed in the National Capital for being honest.
“We talk about jungle raj in Bihar or West Bengal, but right in the city where the Prime Minister and President live, a man is murdered for his honesty. If it is not safe for an honest person to live here, then how will people stay honestIJ” he asked.