Former Supreme Court judge Justice Markandey Katju, who is known for not mincing his words when it comes to criticising politicians, has come down heavily on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for asking the Modi government to hand over control of Delhi Police to the state government.
Kejriwal repeated his demand recently, citing the deteriorating law and order situation in the national capital, especially referring to last week's incident when a 19-year-old girl was murdered in the city's Anand Parbat area.
"...it will require a constitutional amendment to hand over the power over the Delhi police to the Delhi state government. Such an amendment requires two-third majority of members present and voting in each House of Parliament, vide Article 368. It cannot be done by the central government even if it wants to," says Justice Katju in his blog post.
"So who is Kejriwal trying to befool? Does he think that because most people do not know the law he can deceive the public," Katju asks.
In Justice Katju's view, "Clause 3(a) of Article 239AA of the Indian Constitution, by which the NCT of Delhi was constituted, says that the power to make laws regarding the Delhi Police is with the Parliament."
Kejriwal said at a rally on Sunday that the prime minister should transfer the control of Delhi Police to the state government to improve the law and order situation.
"I request Prime Minister Narendra Modi with folded hands that the control of Delhi Police be handed over to us. He has to run the whole country," he said, sounding politically correct after his derogatory "thulla" remark about the Delhi Police.
"I am not saying Delhi Police officials are wrong. They are very good people and are working but the system is bad. Even police officials themselves are frustrated with this and no improvement is happening," Kejriwal said, while addressing a gathering at the inauguration of first 'Aam Aadmi' clinic at Peeragarhi relief camp in New Delhi.
In an interview with a TV news channel, Kejriwal had said, "If a 'thulla' of the Delhi Police asks a roadside vendor for money, a case should not be registered against him, this is not acceptable."
Following this, two constables--Ajay Kumar Taneja and Harvinder--have filed a police complaint against the AAP leader for using the word "thulla" to refer to policemen.
