At a time when offices are going paperless and even governance is going digital, boosting the Digital India call, AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal wants to go back in time. A proposal sent to the lieutenant governor (LG), Anil Baijal, to bring doorstep delivery of already digitized public services, has been sent back for reconsideration citing safety concerns. A press release by the LG office, said that the doorstep delivery proposal had safety implications for women and senior citizens, possible increase in corruption, bad behaviour, breach of privacy and loss of documents amongst other things.

While the privacy concerns are valid, the Aam Aadmi Party today attacked the LG saying that since the LG is not an elected representative, unlike Chief Minister himself, shouldn’t Kejriwal have the final word.

LG says digitisation enough. Elected govt says digitisation needs to be coupled wid doorstep delivery LG does not agree So, the question is – in a democracy, in such a situation, who shud have final say – LG or elected govt?? https://t.co/o1iNid6sxa — Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) December 27, 2017

Many voiced their concerns regarding the possibility of increase in corruption by the individuals who may come to verify documents.

Digitization means no human interference.But getting door delivery service will nulify the moto of digitization as the concerned person coming at door step will ask for any money to verify,which instead will increase corruption. @msisodia @ArvindKejriwal govt shld consider it. — Bharat Parmar (@bharatparmar30) December 27, 2017

AAP rebel leader, Kapil Mishra, too voiced his concerns regarding the human intervention.

Digitalization – least human intervention, least corruption, online What Kejriwal proposed in the name of Door step delivery – Privatization of basic services with max human intervention at every level leading to corruption with no checks and accountability & huge budget — Kapil Mishra (@KapilMishra_IND) December 27, 2017

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He also said that this scheme proposed by Kejriwal would dilute and make the Service Guarantee Act irrelevant because service delivery would no longer be the responsibility of the Government officer.

Truth of Doorstep Delivery of Services by Kejriwal – सरकार नहीं प्राइवेट कंपनी के लड़के बनाएंगे सर्टिफिकेट – डाटा असुरक्षित, डॉक्यूमेंट्स असुरक्षित, प्राइवेसी अनिश्चित, करप्शन सुनिश्चित – Service Delivery Guaruntee Act का असर खत्म क्योंकि सरकारी अधिकारी की कोई जिम्मेदारी नही — Kapil Mishra (@KapilMishra_IND) December 27, 2017

Meanwhile, AAP warriors on Twitter came out in full force asking why should LG, who is not an elected representative, have a final say and not Delhi CM.

As I have always said, LG must come out and explain his decisions to the people of Delhi. Too much power, NO ACCOUNTABILITY https://t.co/lzxnsedskI — Manak Gupta (@manakgupta) December 26, 2017

Shameful !

LGs only agenda or mandate given by BJP is to show AAP in poor light . @msisodia please resend file saying we reconsidered and decided to go ahead . Let there be a referedum and ppl will decide https://t.co/3wql84uYM0 — Prithvi Reddy (@aapkaprithvi) December 26, 2017

However, some pointed out how this step could turn out to be an expensive one on the pockets of Delhi residents.

Sir, LG is pretty logical here. Digitisation means infra cost + maintenance cost and you are done. Home delivery needs infra + maintenance + transportation + larger human resources related costs. Why do we go back in time when whole world is getting digitised already? — Divyang Desai (@DivyangRDesai) December 26, 2017

Considering the implications of human intervention, perhaps it is a good time for Kejriwal to be answerable for once on why he wants to go back in time when the world is moving forward.