No SIR debate as EC's actions, decisions can't be discussed in Parliament: Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson Harivansh
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Hindustan Times
a minute ago
- Hindustan Times
MHA says more facial recognition CCTVs to be installed in Delhi
New Delhi Security is being strengthened in the run-up to Independence Day. (Representative photo) Select parts of Delhi will be covered with facial recognition-enabled closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras as part of the ministry of home affairs' 'Safe City Project', the ministry said in a written response in Rajya Sabha to a question by Trinamool Congress (TMC) Parliamentarian Saket Gokhale. It stated that the project aims to enhance urban security and surveillance infrastructure, including the establishment of an Integrated Command, Control, Communication & Computer Centre (C4I). The 'Safe City Project', funded by the Centre, aims to ensure technology-enabled enhanced policing and better security, especially for women, and costs around ₹798 crore, officials associated with the programme said. This involves the setting up of command and control centres, with facilities for video analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), and facial recognition. The ministry stated that the facial recognition system will be used to monitor 'suspected persons/criminals', and that its operation is governed by Standing Order No. Tech. & PI/04/2022, issued by Delhi Police on June 9, 2022. In August 2024, Delhi Police procured 700 facial recognition CCTV cameras to ensure robust security arrangements for the Independence Day celebrations in the city. These cameras were installed in and around the north and central districts, especially covering the Red Fort, from where Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered his Independence Day speech, to monitor VVIP movement and keep a close eye on suspicious activities. Delhi Police officers said that presently, there are nearly 25,000 CCTV cameras installed by them under various schemes, including the Safe City Project, besides installations by other agencies, such as Indian Railways and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC). The city police's C4I has a facial recognition software (FRS) database of around 350,000 criminals with facial details. 'The 10,000 CCTV cameras that we will be installing under the Safe City Project will all be dynamic cameras on which the FRS can be run. Even now, we have the FRS software in our C4I through which live feed of normal CCTV cameras can also be used for identification of the suspect,' a senior police officer with the modernisation unit of the city police said. The Delhi Police has recently issued directions to commercial establishments in Aerocity, including hotels, guest houses, restaurants and petrol pumps, to install a 'sufficient number' of CCTV cameras covering a 50-metre radius outside their premises to bolster surveillance and enhance public safety ahead of Independence Day. The CCTV footage must be stored for a minimum of 90 days, officials said. 'The FRS helps us in identifying and locating high-value targets and criminals who are wanted by the law enforcement agencies or those looking for a safe haven,' said special commissioner of police (operations and modernisation) Manish Kumar Agarwal. The directive, which remains in force until September 2, aims to prevent crimes and strengthen monitoring in high-profile areas near the IGI Airport, which clocks heavy tourist footfall. A senior Delhi Police officer said that all establishments in and around the Aerocity have been asked to ensure their CCTV systems are in working order, and report any malfunction immediately to the nearest police station.
NDTV
25 minutes ago
- NDTV
Poll Body Sends Reminder To Tejashwi Yadav Amid Dual EPIC Card Row
Patna: The Election Commission has issued a reminder notice to Leader of Opposition in Bihar Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, urging him to respond by August 8 regarding the alleged dual EPIC (Electors Photo Identity Card) matter. The notice, dated August 6, follows up on an earlier request made after Tejashwi displayed a voter ID card during a press conference held on August 2, 2025. During the investigation, it appeared that Tejashwi Yadav has two EPIC numbers, one displayed by Tejashwi Yadav and the other claimed by the Election Commission. In the letter, the Election Commission stated: 'You (Tejashwi Yadav) were requested to provide the details of the mentioned EPIC card along with the original copy of the card mentioned in the press conference... but till now the desired documents have not been provided by your level.' The Commission has asked for the submission of both the card details and the original copy to facilitate a thorough investigation. Tejashwi Yadav, on his part, stated earlier on Tuesday that he would respond to the Commission's notice, but also demanded that the EC respond to the irregularities raised during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list. Meanwhile, the RJD has intensified its criticism of the Election Commission's handling of the voter list revision. RJD spokesperson Chittaranjan Gagan raised concerns over the lack of transparency in the deletion of nearly 65 lakh names from the electoral rolls, as per the draft published on August 1. Gagan questioned why the category-wise breakup of the deletions — such as dead, displaced, duplicate, or unverified voters — has not been made available, despite repeated requests. 'The partial list being shared with political parties does not mention the reasons for deletion,' he said. He also referred to the memorandum submitted by the INDIA bloc to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Bihar on August 1, as well as a formal letter written by RJD state president Mangani Lal Mandal on August 5 (letter no. 170-15.8.25), reiterating the demand for transparency. The RJD further demanded details on how many voters in the draft list have submitted documents to retain their names and asked that the EC's daily bulletins reflect such data. Gagan warned that, apart from the 65 lakh already deleted, another 1.5 to 2 crore names may be at risk of deletion if documentation is not submitted in time. The ongoing EPIC card row and voter list revision controversy come at a politically sensitive time in Bihar, with the state assembly elections expected in the coming months.
Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Indian Express
Mamata slams Shah for SIR: ‘Show your parents' birth certificates first
In a scathing attack on the BJP and Union Home Minister over the detention and deportation of Bengali migrants and the controversial Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday challenged Amit Shah to produce the birth certificates of his parents. Addressing a Bhasha Andolan rally in tribal-dominated Jhargram, the TMC supremo alleged that SIR, which was recently conducted by the Election Commission in poll-bound Bihar, was a backdoor way of implementing the NRC (National Register of Citizens) in the country 'to systematically disenfranchise minorities, tribals, and opposition supporters'. 'They (ECI) are asking for the birth certificates of people's parents. Where will they get those from? I want to ask today. Do BJP leaders themselves have their parents' birth certificates? Mr Amit Shah, arrest me if I am wrong. Do you have your parents' birth certificates? Show that first. Then talk about removing people's names from the voters' list. When BJP leaders come here, we will hit the streets and protest,' she said. 'Previously, children were born at home. Where will the certificate come from? Now everything is based on 2002. Those who are demanding this, do they have their birth certificates,' she asked. Calling the citizenship notices issued to two West Bengal residents by the BJP government in Assam, 'unconstitutional and illegal', the chief minister said: 'Notices are being served to members of the Tapashili and Rajbanshi communities from Assam… We strongly condemn this. This is a veiled attempt to implement NRC. Shame on the BJP.' 'People are committing suicide out of fear of the NRC. Who will take responsibility for this? Tribals, minorities, and Tapashilis are facing persecution across the country. If they try to snatch away the rights of the people, they'll have to go over our bodies,' the chief minister asserted, urging people not to respond to the notices. 'This conspiracy of implementing the NRC through the back door will not be tolerated. We will not give up an inch of land without a fight. How dare they serve NRC notices to people here? Do not respond to those notices. Live here in Bengal peacefully,' the chief minister said. Mamata also threatened to take up the issue of persecution of Bengalis at global forums if it didn't stop immediately. 'If they remove the names of genuine Bengalis from the electoral rolls, I will travel the world and expose their (BJP's) true faces,' Banerjee warned. 'I never speak about our country to the outside world. But if this continues, I will not remain silent. If Bengal faces atrocities, I will tell the whole world how this government is torturing us,' she said, after taking part in a 3-km-long protest march. Referring to BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya's comment that there is no language called Bengali, the TMC supremo said if the Opposition party leaders attack the Bengali language or Bengal's people, she will not stay silent. 'Who gave birth to India's freedom struggle and social awakening? Without Bengal, neither India nor the world can move forward. Bengal's talent is spread across the globe. And what are you doing today?' she said. Drawing from history to bolster her point, the TMC chief said, 'Today, if someone speaks Bengali, they are jailed and labelled as Bangladeshi or Rohingya. I want to ask them, in which language did Rabindranath Tagore, Kazi Nazrul Islam, Netaji, Swami Vivekananda, and Raja Ram Mohan Roy speak? In which language was the National Anthem written? Who composed our National Song?' The Bengal BJP condemned her attack on Amit Shah, calling her remarks 'unbecoming of a chief minister' and reflective of her 'growing political desperation.
