Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi to meet CM Arvind Kejriwal, dispel misconceptions

NEW DELHI: Under attack in the wake of murder of a 19-year-old girl, Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi today said he will try to dispel "misconceptions" about functioning of his force during his meeting with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Kejriwal had yesterday slammed Delhi Police for "deteriorating law and order situation" and summoned Bassi for a meeting on the issue.

"I will definitely go and meet him and will exchange our thoughts...There is a possibility of him telling something useful to us and may be I will give him something which will make him informative towards policing because I have been working for 38 years in the department.

"As a professional police officer it is my duty that I should remove any misconceptions about policing. I have a good opportunity with the meeting to clear misconception if any," he told reporters.

AAP has been at loggerheads with Delhi Police over a number of issues and the party has stepped up its attack against it after arrest of its two MLAs. It has been accusing Delhi Police of bias against it saying its MLAs are being targeted under political pressure.

On AAP's demand for bringing Delhi Police under the city government, Bassi said there is no need for any changes in its current administrative structure. Currently Delhi Police functions directly under administrative control of Home Ministry.

"The mechanism at present is appropriate. This was no knee jerk reaction when the GD Khosla committee introduced the commissionerate system in Delhi after deliberation and examination of witnesses the Parliament Act of 1978 was formed. Any attempt to tickle with the mechanism will be injustice to Delhi residents and can be dangerous," he said.

The top cop also said that he is open to criticism as that helps one to improve his work.

"It is the responsibility of the police to collaborate and work with the people of every class. For that we do not consider people belonging to any class, as separate from us. Now, because a request has been received from the Chief Minister's office by the Principal Secretary, so I will definitely go and the exchange of ideas will take place," Bassi said.

Kejriwal had yesterday announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the family of a girl who was stabbed to death in Anand Parbat locality here and ordered a magisterial probe into the case while slamming Delhi Police for the "deteriorating" law and order situation.

Meenakshi was allegedly stabbed to death on Thursday by two brothers living in her neighbourhood for protesting their verbal abuse.

Members of the Aam Aadmi Party today staged a protest outside police headquarters holding police responsible for stabbing of the girl, saying it has failed to provide security for women.

Bassi said an investigation is on in the case. Meanwhile, Delhi BJP Chief Satish Upadhyay also visited the girl's family today.