Delhi Congress president Ajay Maken has sought explanation from the Delhi Government on the reports that it was mulling purchasing high-end equipment for surveillance, as it expressed apprehension that the ruling AAP may use such a facility to snoop on its political opponents. Maken said he will write to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to elicit his view on a “leaked Cabinet note”, in which he claimed to mention about buying equipments for surveillance and spending large amount on it.
“A 16-page document has come to the public domain which carries Government data and details of current infrastructure. This shows that it has leaked from Government files, so we want Kejriwal to clarify exact status of this Cabinet note,” Maken said at a Press conference. The Congress leader said the information mentioned in the Cabinet note can only be drafted by a Government employee. The document also mentions about ‘secret fund’ which was Rs1.50 lakh earlier and now being proposed to Rs20 lakh, he said.
Also, he questioned the intent of procuring high-tech surveillance equipment and alleged that the AAP is a party which believes in surveillance as their own Ministers tap phone or make sting. “Will this infrastructure be used to nab corrupt officials or will it be used to settle their own political scoresIJ Going by past record of the AAP, we apprehend that such facility will be used to snoop on political opponents. “There should be clear norms on appointment and head of anti-corruption branch (ACB). Their selection should be made through transparent manner and should be neutral. It should be ensured that facility is not misused,” Maken said.