LG holds meet on CCTV installation, Sisodia calls him a 'dictator'

NEW DELHI: A new flashpoint erupted between the Lieutenant-Governor (LG) and the AAP-led government on Thursday as the former chaired a meeting on law and order where a detailed presentation was given on CCTV installation, a pilot project of the Delhi government. Thereafter, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia slammed the LG calling him a 'dictator' as the concerned department from the government side was not informed on the issue.

"LG Sir, please don't be a dictator. This is an attempt to run a parallel government in Delhi. It is illegal. You don't have the power to call meeting on issues under elected government's domain," Sisodia tweeted. "Under the Constitution, the LG could only express difference of opinion on decisions taken by the elected government. Please respect the Constitution," Sisodia added. Backing his statement, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the LG should respect law and constitution.

"The LG chaired a law and order meeting of Delhi Police on Thursday and reviewed operational and functional aspects of CCTVs in the Capital, their utilisation or maintenance, progress in installation and future plans," noted the LG office.

It also clarified that the meeting was with Delhi Police. "Delhi Police made a detailed presentation in this regard. The LG was informed about the identified places for installation of CCTV cameras especially in view of directions of Hon'ble High Court. At present 4,067 CCTVs are installed at 87 different sites by Delhi Police, while the proposal for installation of 1,380 cameras is under active consideration by MHA," noted a statement issued from the LG office on Thursday.

It added that the LG was informed that Master Control Stations are installed in concerned police stations to monitor the CCTV system. Also, more than two lakh cameras have been installed with public participation in Delhi (RWAs, Market associations etc) in addition to about 11,000 cameras that have been installed by other agencies like DMRC, NDMC, Railways and DIAL at different locations.

"It was also discussed that the main purpose of CCTV is crime prevention and safety," noted the statement.