Giving in to demands of the AAP legislators, who had expressed apprehension that they “might” be framed in false cases, Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel on Sunday said CCTV cameras will be instal
Giving in to demands of the AAP legislators, who had expressed apprehension that they “might” be framed in false cases, Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel on Sunday said CCTV cameras will be installed in the offices of these legislators and civil defence volunteers deployed in their offices too. The decision came a day after 67 Aam Aadmi Party legislators met Mr Goel and asked for his help. Mr Goel said the same facilities will be extended to three BJP legislators, if they make a request.
The AAP has 67 MLAs in the 70-member Delhi Assembly and the BJP has three. “The public works department (PWD) has been asked to install CCTV cameras in the offices of the AAP MLAs. As per requirement, civil defence volunteers will also be deployed at their offices to manage people visiting all the MLAs’ offices,” the Delhi Assembly Speaker said. As the Assembly Speaker is the “head” of all the city MLAs, it is “his constitutional” duty to take such a decision for the welfare of the elected legislators, Mr Goel said. “If all three BJP MLAs also want to get the same facility, the Assembly will definitely install CCTV cameras and deploy civil defence volunteers at their offices too,” he said. “We have seen in recent past that several allegations have been levelled against some AAP MLAs. Groups of people suddenly come to their offices and level allegations against them. The police also swiftly takes action on these complaints and the MLAs then don’t have strong evidence to defend themselves. The CCTV cameras and deployment of civil defence volunteers at the legislators’ offices will ensure this does not happen,” the Delhi Assembly Speaker said. Dismissing the claim that the Delhi Assembly was providing security to the AAP MLAs, Mr Goel also said civil defence volunteers will only be deployed at the MLAs’ offices in their constituencies. Ever since the AAP government came to power in February last year, 12 party MLAs have been arrested on various allegations, so far.
In June, AAP MLA Dinesh Mohaniya was arrested by the Delhi police in the middle of a press conference for allegedly molesting and assaulting a woman from his constituency. Another MLA, Naresh Yadav, booked in connection with the alleged Malerkotla sacrilege incident on June 24, was arrested by the Punjab police from his house in Delhi.
Last week, the AAP claimed that its MLAs were being arrested under a “conspiracy” and that a writ petition would be filed in the Delhi high court with a compilation of “false” cases slapped against them.
