AAP team to meet Shinde, to demand suspension of Delhi Police officers

New Delhi  – An Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) delegation led by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is expected to meet Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde at 5.30 p.m. this evening to demand the suspension of police officers who had countered a government directive two days ago.

AAP is demanding the suspension of the station house officers (SHO) of Sagarpur and Malviya Nagar police stations and two assistant commissioners of police.

On Thursday evening, Kejriwal told a press conference that action will be taken against police officials in incidents involving confrontation with Delhi minister Somnath Bharti and Rakhi Birla.

Kejriwal said then that the Delhi Police was “highly compromised”, and this was visible when they refused to act against sex and drug gangs and the burning of a woman.

“We are demanding … we are warning Delhi Police,” Kejriwal said.

As Delhi is not a full-fledged state, the Delhi Police does not report to the city government. It is controlled by the Union Home Ministry.

On Friday, AAP leaders’ met Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung and lodged a formal complaint against the Delhi Police.

AAP leader and PWD Minister Manish Sisodia said that his party has demanded the suspension of the four cops. Delhi Police has submitted a report to Jung, complaining about the “interfering” behaviour of two Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ministers – Women and Child Welfare Minister Rakhi Birla, Law Minister Somnath Bharti – in police investigation.

The Lt. Governor has asked retired judge, B.L. Garg to head an inquiry body in the matter. Judge Garg has been asked to submit his report within 30 days.

“Their suspension is necessary, otherwise there will be a problem in the inquiry,” Sisodia claimed, and added that ” Our government won’t keep quiet. This is not Sheila Dikshit’s government. The government has changed. We will take action whether or not Delhi Police is under us.”