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Tuesday, April 13, 1999

Dikshit flays Centre, police for law and order situation

EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE  
NEW DELHI, April 12: Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit lamented today that ``no one is taking Delhi seriously'' and demanded that the Union Home Ministry pay attention to the law and order situation in the Capital.

Congress MLAs today blamed the Home Minister for being too busy with ``Jaya, Mamta and Samata'' and demanded his resignation over the rising crime graph in Delhi.

In her reply during the discussion on law and order on the last day of the Delhi Assembly today, Dikshit said: ``It looks like no one in the Home Ministry has the time to look at Delhi. It is not like Delhi is too big or the population migration is too much, but we have to accept that there is something lacking both in the police force and the political will of the Centre to do something to improve the situation.''

Saying that incidents of crime in Delhi were more in number than in any other metropolis, despite the larger police force, Dikshit added: ``If the Centre needs personnel for VIP security then first provide more policemen. There are 17 new police stations, but without any personnel or equipment. How will the police stations help?''

It does not matter how many police stations Delhi has until the people feel safe and fearless. This Assembly is the political face of the city and people expect us to do things,'' she said. `` Making excuses will not help. The ball is in the Centre's court.''

She pointed out that though socio-economic factors lead to rise in crime, these factors were present in other cities too. ``Moreover, we have the privilege to say that in Delhi there is no one below the poverty line,'' she said.

Giving suggestions to the Centre about how to go about improving the situation, she said: ``We are ready to increase our part of the finances to the Delhi Police, if the Centre provides us with a more responsive force.''

She emphasised that patrolling had to be intensified, with police vans and motorcycles becoming more visible. She also suggested that the vehicles be provided with loud sirens and beacons so that ``an atmosphere is created to prevent crime''.

``More police stations have to be created with better response facilities and modernised weapons,''she said. ``Thana level committees should be formed with the help of MLAs to create an effective interface between the police and the public.''

She called for creating greater awareness amongst the people about crime. Dikshit said: ``Like in the Shivani murder case, people must be told not to open doors to strangers, not to carry large amounts of cash openly, old couples should be given special protection. Establishments like jewellery shops should be given directions on how to maintain security and servants should be verified.''

She also called for more alert border checking and strengthening of check posts to prevent criminals, like the Pardi tribals who come all the way from Madhya Pradesh, from entering Delhi.

In answer to the Opposition BJP's charge that by flaying the police on crime scene, the government was demoralising the force, the CM said: ``It is the most stressed force in the world. There are 10 battalions for Delhi Police, there should be at least 5 more so as to create enough police presence.''

Referring to the anniversary celebrations of the BJP government, she said: ``One year is a long time. And not even the statehood bill has been placed in Parliament. If the Centre gives us statehood, we will fulfill our part in the new scheme of things.''

Speaking earlier, Opposition leader Jagdish Mukhi had pointed out: ``The pattern of crime keeps changing. Earlier, it was bomb blasts, bank robberies, now it is murders etc.''

Saying that 70 per cent of crimes in Delhi had been solved in the last three months, when the national average was 45-50 percent, he said there was no point in demoralising the force by repeated police-bashing.

Congress MLA Tarvinder Marwah in his speech claimed that a politician and a policeman were involved in Shivani murder case and demanded the resignation of the Home Minister.

Congress MLA Zile Singh Chauhan flayed the Commissioner of Police for not being present in a discussion by the elected representatives about law and order.

Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.


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