Seven months have now elapsed since Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal came to power on the strength of an astounding performance in the Delhi Assembly elections, but he has not yet been able to appoint a Lokpal, though the previous year he had resigned on this score. No head of government has ever adopted such confrontationist tactics with everyone — the Central government, the head of the state, the lieutenant-governor, the media, the bureaucracy, accusing individuals of corruption without evidence, and using the word thulla to refer to the Delhi Police.
His bête noir is the L-G, who he has compared with the Viceroy of the British sovereign, and likened Prime Minister Modi to the British ruler, both of them ridiculous to say the least. Several chief ministers of Delhi, both from the Congress and the BJP, have sought full-fledged statehood for Delhi. Most worked with different parties in power at the Centre. Yet the Central and the state governments functioned harmoniously.
Mr Kejriwal’s second tenure began with the AAP’s crusader-against-corruption image getting tarnished. There were reports of corruption during the Assembly election and grave misdemeanours among AAP MLAs, including evidence that the law minister had a fake degree. Mr Kejriwal’s own image took a beating when in his presence Gajendra Singh, a well-to-do farmer, committed suicide while Mr Kejriwal continued with his speech. Gajendra’s daughter made serious allegations and the police is investigating the case. Two days later, Mr Kejriwal apologised for continuing with his speech.
Apart from the L-G, his other bête noir is the Delhi commissioner of police, B.S. Bassi. The latter has reputation of being a very professional officer. It is to his credit, that the Republic Day Parade and President Obama’s visit went off peacefully. The security of the two biggest targets in the world for the terrorists, Mr Obama and Prime Minister Modi, was fully ensured during their two hours on Rajpath. But Mr Kejriwal has declared war against Mr Bassi.
I am a policeman by heritage and a soldier by profession. Both my grandfathers and father were chiefs of police in Bihar. During my 40-year Army career, I served closely with the police. In 1946-47, during the Partition when the civil administration had virtually collapsed in Delhi and Punjab, I worked closely with the Delhi Police whose chief was then an SSP.
In 1965, during the protest led by Jyoti Basu, I worked in a joint headquarters with the Calcutta commissioner of police at Lal Bazaar police station. We successfully dealt with the situation without opening fire. Later, as chief of Military Intelligence and as adjutant-general dealing with discipline and ceremonials, I again worked closely with the Delhi Police.
As a formation commander from brigade to Army levels, I had paramilitary units of the police under my command in the Northeast and in J&K. As governor of two sensitive states for 11 years, I oversaw police functioning. Given this association, I have sentimental attachment to the police, but I am not blind to its shortcomings, the biggest of which has been that its ethos of a colonial police has not changed to a people-friendly police.
Corruption in the old days was largely limited to police personnel below gazetted rank. Today this has spread to the highest levels thanks largely to our political leaders. Reforms recommended by the National Police Commission have been in cold storage for decades and the directions of the Supreme Court have been ignored by all states.
Despite constant provocation by Mr Kejriwal, police commissioner Bassi has been acting with restraint. However, he should not have got provoked and made the mistake of going in civilian clothes instead of his uniform when summoned by the CM or told the media that he was prepared to debate with Mr Kejriwal.
It was distressing to see the police roughing up an 82-year-old war veteran protesting peacefully. The picture went viral on all TV channels. The Union home minister expressed regret the next day and the police commissioner after him. The latter should have gone to Jantar Mantar immediately and initiated action against the guilty policeman and the deputy commissioner at the site.
Considering all the shenanigans of politicians in power in states nowadays, and the police in the states, it is just as well that the police are not controlled by the government in Delhi. A politician in power at the Centre deals with national matters and has little time to indulge in petty local issues. The police in the national capital should continue to function under the Centre, as in Washington, DC, which, like Delhi, is the capital of a union of states.
The writer, a retired lieutenant-general, was Vice-Chief of Army Staff and has served as governor of Assam and Jammu and Kashmir
