AAP slams Jung over women's security

The AAP has accused lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung of stonewalling the Delhi Government’s efforts to bolster women’s security in the “unsafe” national Capital, and said the l-G office was being “used as political tool” by the Centre.In its latest move, the AAP has appealed on behalf of the Delhi Government by writing an open letter to Jung seeking his cooperation and support, so that the promises made by the party in its manifesto could be implemented.  

Post Delhi Budget, the AAP feels the Delhi Government may find it difficult to implement its plans and projects, whether it’s related to the issue of women’s safety or giving a free hand to Delhi’s Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) in curbing corruption in the city, if the feud between the Government and the l-G continues.

In the open letter, the party’s Delhi convener Dilip Pandey alleged that Jung had turned down their repeated requests for a meeting regarding the appointment of Home Guards as marshals in DTC buses.“To remind you, one of the founding principles of the Aam Aadmi Party has been to espouse the cause of women’s 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 AAP... 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 Guards 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,” Pandey said in the letter.

Besides, the AAP has raised another issue in the said letter, such as the appointment of MK Meena as the head of the ACB. “Now, it seems, again the office of the l-G is being used as a political tool in the hands of the Central Government, by unconstitutionally appointing MK Meena to a position that does even exist in the charter of Anti-Corruption Branch, which isn’t just illegal but contempt of honourable court. Dear Sir! The honourable court has clarified many times in the past that the ACB doesn’t report to the l-G but the elected Government of NCT Delhi (GNCTD),” the letter said. 

“There had been a series of incidents that compelled me to write this open letter to the lieutenant Governor. We’re not going to resort to aggressive methods, but keep appealing to the l-G through letters, Press conferences and raising it on public platforms. We’ll keep on hammering, till we’re heard. We’re into politics, but the politicisation of issues related to public welfare, will cause damage both to the people and the governance. In a democracy, the executive should listen to the logical demands of an elected Government for smooth governance,” added Pandey.