CCTVs in Vidhan Bhavan lobby meant to keep watch on Oppn: NCP

Mumbai: Maharashtra Legislative Council Chairman Ramraje Nimbalkar today directed removal of all CCTV cameras from the lobby adjoining the Council Hall in Vidhan Bhavan building here, after NCP legislators alleged that the BJP-led government has installed these cameras to keep a watch on them.

Raising the issue in the Upper House, NCP MLC Amarsingh Pandit alleged that the CCTV cameras have been installed at the lobby adjoining the Council Hall of the state Legislature complex here as members of the ruling BJP and Shiv Sena want to keep an eye on the Opposition's moves.

"It seems that the Opposition members are being watched as we discuss our strategies on how to go about during the session. These cameras should be removed as the ruling parties need not know whom we meet in the lobby," he said.

Responding to his request, Nimbalkar instructed that all CCTVs be removed from the lobby. When contacted, a senior security official said that four CCTV cameras each have been installed in the lobbies of the state Legislative Council as well as Assembly.

"We felt that cameras were required in the lobbies as we are taking extra security measures on Vidhan Bhavan premises. There are a total 78 cameras on the premises, of which 28 are permanent and the rest are installed during the session," he said.

Citing an example, the security official said that recently, a mobile phone was recently stolen from a cabinet minister's chamber, which was recovered with the help of CCTVs.