Delhi police denies permission for AAP's Car-Free Day

Delhi police has denied Aam Aadmi Party permission to hold it's 'Car-Free Day' event on 22 October.

Delhi police commissioner BS Bassi, in a letter to Chief Secretary KK Sharma, claimed that the government did not consult the police before finalising the event.

He wrote that as the event coincided with Dussehra, the government's decision to prevent cars from using Netaji Subhash Marg, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, and Tilak Marg between Red Fort and India Gate seems 'hasty and impractical'.

"Surprisingly, there was no prior consultation with Delhi Police before taking the decision for holding such an event or regarding the suitability of the date proposed. The choice of date, i.e 22.10.2015, for such an event seems to be hasty and quite impractical," Bassi wrote in the letter.

Responding to the commissioner, Delhi Transport Minister Gopal Rai said, "There are several agencies like DDA, MCD and police which have the similar responsibility to make government's 'Car-Free Day' a success. Government will hold consultations with concerned agencies to observe it. Additional Commissioner (Traffic) was also present in the meeting wherein the decision to hold this event was taken."