New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday demanded the resignation of Lieutenant Governor (LG) VK Saxena over the Pragati Maidan robbery. The robbery took place on Saturday, when two men intercepted a car inside a busy tunnel and robbed its occupants at gunpoint.
The victims, who were on their way to Gurgaon to deliver money, were carrying around Rs 2.5 lakh in cash. The robbers took the money and fled the scene.
Kejriwal said that the robbery was a “serious security lapse” and that it showed that the law and order situation in Delhi was deteriorating. He said that the LG was responsible for the security of Delhi and that he should resign immediately.
“The LG is the head of the Delhi Police. He is responsible for the security of Delhi. This is a serious security lapse. The LG should resign immediately,” Kejriwal said.
The LG’s office has denied any responsibility for the robbery. A spokesperson for the LG said that the Delhi Police is investigating the matter and that the culprits will be brought to justice.
However, Kejriwal has been critical of the LG’s handling of law and order in Delhi. He has accused the LG of interfering in the functioning of the Delhi Police and of trying to scuttle investigations into cases involving his political opponents.
The Pragati Maidan robbery is the latest in a series of high-profile crimes that have taken place in Delhi in recent months. In April, a woman was gang-raped in a moving car in the heart of the city. In May, a man was stabbed to death in broad daylight in a crowded market.
Kejriwal has said that the increasing crime rate in Delhi is a “matter of shame”. He has demanded that the Centre take steps to improve the security situation in the city.
The Centre has said that it is committed to improving the security situation in Delhi. However, it has also said that the Delhi Police is a state subject and that the Centre cannot interfere in its functioning.
The standoff between Kejriwal and the LG over law and order is likely to continue. It remains to be seen whether the LG will resign or whether the Centre will take steps to improve the security situation in Delhi.