The Pragati Maidan Robbery 2023 : What Really Happened?
In response to a delivery man and his companion being robbed at gunpoint within the Pragati Maidan tunnel, the Aam Aadmi Party launched an assault on Delhi LG V K Saxena over the law and order situation in the nation’s capital on Monday.
Delhi has been engulfed in controversy once again, as a high-profile robbery at Pragati Maidan has raised concerns about the state of law and order in the national capital. In a sharp response, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has targeted Lieutenant Governor (LG) Anil Baijal, accusing him of lacking interest in maintaining the safety and security of Delhi’s residents.
The incident has sparked a heated debate over the responsibilities of the LG and the AAP-led state government, exposing the ongoing power struggle and political tension in the city.
A daring robbery occurred at Pragati Maidan, one of Delhi’s most prominent exhibition centres. The thieves managed to evade the existing security systems and escape with significant valuable merchandise.
The incident highlighted the vulnerabilities of the venue’s security infrastructure and raised questions about the prevailing law and order situation in Delhi.
According to prominent AAP politician and Delhi Cabinet Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj, the Constitution gives the LG authority over law and order, police, and land, but “apart from these subjects, he is interested in every other area.”
He asserted that criminals have no fear of the law in the nation’s capital.
The Aam Aadmi Party, led by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, wasted no time pointing fingers at Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, alleging his indifference towards Delhi’s law and order. The party claimed that the LG’s lack of interest and involvement in maintaining security arrangements has increased criminal activities across the city.
The G-20 meeting will soon be held in Delhi. Regularly, it welcomes exhibits and trade shows from throughout the world. The occurrence of an armed robbery at such a high-profile VIP location indicates that criminals are unconcerned with the consequences of their actions. The lack of police presence is not in dispute. Police officers can’t be everywhere at once. The law ought to inspire dread, he said.
The AAP leader used several recent criminal instances to support his contention that the general public no longer trusts the police. People are reluctant to intervene in criminal cases because they worry about being connected to the patient.
The AAP, in its attack on the LG, has emphasize Governor d that the Lieutenant Governor holds significant powers in matters related to law and order in Delhi. They argue that the LG, being the central government’s representative, should take greater responsibility for ensuring the safety and security of the citizens. The party further alleges that the LG’s focus on administrative control and disputes with the state government has led to neglect of crucial issues such as law enforcement.
On the other hand, supporters of the LG argue that the Lieutenant Governor’s primary role is to oversee the administration and governance of the capital rather than directly handling law and order issues. They assert that the responsibility for maintaining law and order primarily lies with the Delhi Police, which falls under the purview of the central government and is not directly controlled by the state government.
The power struggle between the AAP-led Delhi government and the Lieutenant Governor has been persistent. The AAP has consistently demanded full statehood for Delhi, arguing that it would give them the necessary authority and control over law enforcement agencies. However, the central government, citing constitutional provisions, has maintained that the Lieutenant Governor remains the ultimate decision-making authority in matters relating to land, police, and public order.
He asserted that “all good officers” of the Delhi Police were involved in investigating “political conspiracies”. And some of them are saved as a backup for VIP arrangements. Do police serve the general public or VIP events? For organizing VIP arrangements, a particular army might be established. He also requested that the LG conduct unannounced inspections of police stations.
According to him, the LG is responsible to the Delhi citizens.
“You conduct unexpected checks on DJB water pumps but don’t have time to attend police stations. Please conduct random inspections of police stations as well as make press releases, Bhardwaj said.
The Pragati Maidan robbery serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by the Delhi Police and the need for effective coordination between the state government and the Lieutenant Governor’s office. The incident has reignited the debate over the existing administrative structure in Delhi and the necessity for more straightforward guidelines and collaboration to tackle crime and maintain law and order effectively.
“They would meet monthly to examine the law and order situation. They included the local MLA, the SHOs of the areas, and members of civil society. They ought to be reset. According to him, police stations are working at 35 to 40 per cent of their capacity.
A delivery worker and his companion were reportedly robbed on Saturday while travelling to Gurgaon to deliver money of Rs 2 lakh by the four unidentified individuals who waylaid their car within the Pragati Maidan tunnel.
The Pragati Maidan robbery has become a focal point for the ongoing political battle between the AAP-led Delhi government and Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal. While the AAP accuses the LG of neglecting Delhi’s law and order, supporters of the LG argue that his role is limited to administration rather than direct control over the police. Regardless of these political spats, all stakeholders need to work together to strengthen Delhi’s law enforcement agencies, enhance security measures, and prioritize the safety of the city’s residents.
