Watch Video: CM Arvind Kejriwal tears up LG panel report on CCTVs

In his address, the chief minister also mocked the Delhi Police, saying, the provision of mandatory licence would again "increase bribery".

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NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind tore apart a report of a panel set up by Lt Governor Anil Baijal on working out the guidelines for installation and monitoring of surveillance cameras. In an act of defiance, Kejriwal said "no mandatory permission" should be required from police to install CCTV cameras. He was addressing a huge gathering of representatives of resident welfare associations, market associations and non-profit groups at Indira Gandhi Stadium, Mr Kejriwal claimed that crime in Delhi would be "reduced by half" once surveillance cameras were set up across the city.

#WATCH: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal tears a report of a Lieutenant Governor committee on CCTV cameras in Delhi saying, ''Janta ki marzi hai ki is report ko phaad do. Janta janardan hai jantantra mein" pic.twitter.com/eE5FYSJtJ3

— ANI (@ANI) July 29, 2018

"I am extremely delighted to see women in such large numbers, who have showed up here for this session. It means they want CCTV cameras in Delhi," he said. "For last three years, we have been trying to get CCTVs installed in the city. We also initiated the files, but the L-G, other officers and BJP did not let us work," he alleged. During his speech, the chief minister waved the report of the panel set up by Mr Baijal in May to regulate the installation and monitoring of CCTV cameras in private and government buildings in the national capital. He read out portions from it before tearing it to pieces. "The report says that every owner and data controller of CCTV system collecting any information from public space shall report to the appropriate authority. And, the appropriate authority and police shall visit and assess if CCTVs are needed or not," Mr Kejriwal said. "In democracy, it is people's rule and not police rule, L-G sahab. So, I want to ask you all here, do we need to get any license for installation of CCTV camera? You all said 'No'. So, what should we do with this report, should we tear it?" he asked. "So, tomorrow, I am going to sign the files that no license be needed to install CCTV cameras," Mr Kejriwal said. Later, the Lt Governor's office in a statement issued later, however, said, the rules were only at a "draft stage" and had been put out in public domain for suggestions and clarifications. The Lt Governor's office in the statement issued after the event said, "Draft rules put out for public suggestions/objections/feedback by the committee formed under the Principal Secretary (Home) have only prescribed a reporting mechanism for CCTVs and not a licensing mechanism". "It is emphasised that the rules are only at a draft stage and the same have been put out in public domain for suggestions/clarifications so that a proper framework for installation of CCTVs in the city can be evolved which would help in ensuring law and order without compromising on the privacy of citizens," it said. (with additional input from agencies)