Short-lived bonhomie

It is well known that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi and Delhi Police chief B N Bassi are not exactly on the best of terms. However, while claiming that the 15-day trial run of the odd-even formula for vehicles was already a success, Delhi Transport and Rural Development Minister Gopal Rai had little option but to thank the Delhi Police along with civil defence volunteers and other enforcement agencies. While Rai's magnanimity surprised many, it wasn't long before the government and the Delhi Police were back at each other's throats. Addressing the annual press conference of the Delhi Police, Bassi said, "This is a blessing for the people in Delhi that the Delhi Police is not under the Delhi government." AAP leader Ashish Khetan shot back on Twitter: "It's the good fortune of Bassi that he doesn't report to Kejriwal; else he would have been removed by now for incompetence."