L-G's meeting on CCTV issue riles up AAP govt, BJP attacks Sisodia

The AAP government today launched a fresh attack on Lt Governor Anil Baijal after he held a meeting on the status of CCTV camera installation in the city, dubbing his actions "illegal" and said he should follow the Constitution and not be a "dictator".

"LG shud respect and follow the constitution (sic)," Chief Minister Kejriwal tweeted while his deputy Manish Sisodia said the Lieutenant Governor should not attempt to run a parallel government as he does not have any power to call a meeting on issues which are under the government's domain.

Their reaction came hours after the L-G held a meeting on law and order where the current status of CCTV cameras installation, a pre-poll promise of AAP, was taken up. In a tweet, Baijal said he had directed authorities concerned to have an inter-agency group to formulate Standing Operating Procedure (SOP) for uniformity in installation.

"Chaired law & order meeting on current status of CCTV cameras in Delhi, including their O&M issues. Directed to have an inter-agency group to formulate a SOP to have uniformity in installation & address issues of privacy, security, feed-sharing, integration & optimum utilisation (sic)," the L-G said on Twitter.

The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash, Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik and senior officers.

But the L-G's move did not go down well with the Kejriwal government.

"LG sir, pl don't be a dictator. This is attempt to run parallel govt in Delhi. Its illegal. U don't hv power to call meeting on issues under elected govt's domain," Sisodia tweeted.

"Under Constitution! u can ONLY express difference of opinion on decision of elected govt. Pl respect the Const (sic)," he said.

The opposition BJP criticised Sisodia, saying his reaction on the L-G taking lead in the installation of CCTV cameras is a reflection of the AAP leader's "political desperation".

"The CCTV issue is not only related to public sentiment, but was also a prime point of AAP's political agenda, but once in power Kejriwal has constantly evaded working on it. Manish Sisodia's reaction on Lt Governor taking lead in the matter is a reflection of his political desperation," Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari said in a statement.

Giving details about today's meeting, the L-G office issued a statement, saying that