House resolution accuses Anshu Prakash of blocking CCTV project
The Delhi Assembly on Friday passed a resolution demanding immediate removal of Anshu Prakash from the post of the Delhi Chief Secretary for putting hurdles in the implementation of the Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) project at the behest of the BJP Government at the Centre.
The AAP-dominated House resolved that installing CCTV cameras in Delhi is an urgent need for the protection of women and children.
“This House condemns Chief Secretary Prakash, who appears to be acting on behalf of the BJP Government at the Centre for blocking the CCTV project. His act appears to be a part of the conspiracy by the Opposition to further delay the CCTV project. This House demands that Prakash should immediately be removed from the post of Chief Secretary, Delhi,” said the resolution passed by the Assembly.
The resolution was moved by AAP legislator from Chadni Chowk Alka lamba, seeking a detailed examination of the reasons for delay in the implementing the 571.40 crore CCTV project that was given in-principle approval by the Delhi Government in October 2015.
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia launched a blistering attack on the Chief Secretary and accused him of working as a “BJP agent” to block the project.
Sisodia’s attack on the Chief Secretary came after he noted on the file “there should be no undue haste in considering the CCTV project”.
Responding to the note of the Chief Secretary, the Delhi Cabinet said, “The note of the Chief Secretary is devoid of any merit. He is warned against such conduct in future,” the Cabinet note stated.
“There’s been increase in crime cases, including those against women, in the last few years. It is a matter of concern. Since law & order and police come under the l-G, the PM and and Rajnath Singh, they should take action. But we’ve seen that they haven’t done anything. We’ve decided to install CCTV cameras,” said Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a tweet.
The move by the Delhi Assembly comes close on the heels of a confrontation involving Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot and secretary-cum-commissioner Varsha Joshi over procurement of buses.
It is pertinent to mention here that in July the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had released an order for the appointments of two additional Chief Secretaries in Delhi. Interestingly, this is the first time when a Union Territory (UT) will have two Additional Chief Secretaries.
Two senior civil servants Anindo Majumdar and Manoj Parida had appointed as Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) of Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD).