New Delhi: Fissures in Delhi Congress came out in the open when on his first day in the office, Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Maken said that the command of Delhi Police should remain with the Centre, inviting sharp reaction from Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.
"All international dignitaries also come here. Keeping in mind the international dimensions and international repercussions, the state government alone cannot manage it. It should be with the Centre since Delhi is the national capital," Maken told reporters when asked about his opinion to the demand of handing over the command of Delhi police to the city government.
Maken said there are international dimensions in Delhi and it is not like any other state's capital, it is the national capital in which all embassies, Prime Minister's Office and Rashtrapati Bhavan are located.
The new Minister, who took charge today, said, "I feel, it will not be in favour of Delhi that the overall security and Delhi Police go to the city government since there are international dimensions here."
Reacting to the Maken's statement, Dikshit said such a decision is not taken by a Minister of State and only Prime Minister and Home Minister can jointly decide on it.
She, however, pleaded ignorance what Maken had actually said. "I don't know what he had said," she commented.