The Delhi Government is toying with the idea of including VVIPs such as the President of India, the Prime Minister and Union Ministers under the ambit of the next round of the odd-even scheme. The Arvind Kejriwal Government has directed all MlAs to organise public meetings in their constituencies on February 6-7 and elicit a response from the public whether these VVIPs need exemption from the odd-even scheme. The Kejriwal Government’s move appears to be aimed at embarrassing President Pranab Mukherjee, the Prime Minister Modi and Central Ministers in the name of public opinion.
Top sources told The Pioneer that Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia reportedly instructed his party MlAs on Friday to seek public opinion. Buoyed by the “success” of the 15-day odd-even experiment, Sisodia is now trying to get “sense of the people” at the grass-root level to see whether they want Mukherjee, Modi and his Cabinet colleagues too to follow the odd-even formula.
However, there lies the catch as the President and the Prime Minister’s security is governed by the ‘security blue book’. The President of India being the head of the state enjoys absolute immunity and he or she is not governed by orders of any State or Union Territories. Similarly the Prime Minister’s security is manned by the Special Protection Group (SPG) Act and any changes in the security of the Prime Minister during his movements on the roads are non-negotiable. Some of the Central Ministers have been accorded Z+ security covers based on their threat perceptions and restricting the movement of their vehicles would not be that easy.
At the meeting, Sisodia has directed that at least four meetings should be held in every Assembly constituency on February 6-7. The SDM will decide the venues and make all arrangements for public meetings in each constituency after consulting with area MlA. MlAs will be responsible for distribution of pamphlets informing the residents about the time and venues in their respective areas. The MlAs have been directed to bring maximum public at the jan sabhas. Residents should be informed well in advance about the time and venues of these meetings.
During its first 15-day odd-even experiment from January 1, the AAP Government had given exemptions among others to the President, the Prime Minister, the Central Ministers, the Governors, the Chief Ministers of other States except the Delhi Chief Minister and Chief Justice of India, vehicles used by law enforcing agencies, ambulances and fire tenders. The Delhi Chief Minister had carpooled with his Cabinet colleagues to commute between his office and residence.
For common persons, exemption had been granted to women, people driving in medical emergencies and two-wheelers. Questions had been raised why senior citizens had not been granted exemption. A series of meetings held in the past had deliberated upon the fact whether parents who had to drop or pick their children from schools should also be granted exemption.
Reacting to Sisodia’s instruction, a senior BJP leader said that this “mindset” clearly shows that the AAP was more interested in playing politics than doing any good for the city. He said that any move to bring in Mr Modi under the odd-even scheme has to have clearance from the Special Protection Group, which is responsible for the PM’s security. The SPG was created by a special Act of Parliament and it takes precedence over other Acts.
The Kejriwal Government has sought public opinion via email through a six-point questionnaire. At Press conference last week, Kejriwal had stated that he wants people to “decide” whether this scheme should be implemented for a week, two weeks, a month or forever and has given four dates, February 14, March 1, April 1 and May 1 for the re-introduction of the scheme.
Since the Government is seriously considering implementation of the second phase of the odd-even car rationing, deliberations are being held at different levels to ensure that the scheme is hassle-free and helps in reducing traffic and air pollution, a government official added.