Chidambaram blames migrants for crimes,takes back words

Condemning the recent rape incidents in the Capital,he said steps are being taken by setting up more police stations,recruiting more police men and putting more police vehicles on the roads to improve the law and situation here.

Chidambaram’s remarks were criticised by the BJP,RJD and SP leaders who said it was made to cover up his and Delhi Police’s failure.

Soon after,the home minister issued a clarification saying he did not refer to any state or region or language or race or religion and was conscious that every one who came to work in Delhi was,in a sense,a migrant,including himself.

He said when he was asked a question about the recent incidents of rape in Delhi and the alleged failure of the Delhi Police,his reply had a “matter of fact reference to migration,unauthorised settlements and behaviour that is unacceptable”.

Chidambaram said he was dismayed that some people have pounced upon the word “migrant” and have raised a controversy.

“The country faces many real issues and I don’t have the desire to say or do anything that will distract from the real issues. I have nothing against migration or migrants,being a migrant myself. I was pointing to ‘behaviour that is unacceptable’. Nevertheless,I think the best way to put an end to any controversy would be to withdraw the whole of my answer to the question,and I do so.

“I would request every one,including the Delhi Police,to focus on the real issues of crime,crime prevention and crime detection,” he said.

RJD chief Lalu Prasad termed Chidambaram’s statement as “very unfortunate” and said it was an attempt to “hide his own failure by putting the blame on the migrants”.

“I disapprove the statement of Home Minister Chidambaram. In future,he should talk about his own failure and should not put blame on others,” he said.

Condemning Chidambaram’s statement,BJP spokesman Shahnawaz Hussain said: “This is an irresponsible statement. Congress leaders are taking out their frustrations over the party’s defeat in Bihar. Delhi Police works under the nose of the Home Minister. He should not make such statement to cover up his failures.”

SP MP Akhilesh Yadav said Congress ministers cover up their failures or blame it on others. “As for law and order,responsibility is fully of the police and other authorities,they are getting their salary for this. But to put it on others is running away from responsibility,” he said.

The home minister said there are two types of crime – one opportunistic and another pre-meditated – and the police can stop the pre-meditated crime but in case of opportunistic crime,the police can only detect it,catch the culprit and punish them through trial in a court of law.

“These are opportunistic crimes. The police have acted swiftly. They have arrested the alleged culprits. They have to be taken before a court of law and I am sure the law will take its course.

“I condemn what happened at the same time I think we must understand,the nature of policing today in a big city and I think the police have done well in capturing the culprits very quickly,” he said.

The home minister said there is nothing more heinous and absolutely murder is equally heinous. Rape is a heinous crime.

“In terms of crime statistics,you can look at them,I can look at them. There is a decline in crime in Delhi.

There is an increase in crime detection in Delhi.

Lalu Prasad said he had come to know that Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit was also present in the function. “She also had in the past put blamed on people from Bihar and Purvanchal that they were bad. This is their (the leaders) failure. It is a very unfortunate statement,” he said.

BJP’s Deputy Leader in the Rajya Sabha S S Ahluwalia condemned Chidambaram’s remarks,saying “if the Home Minister was not able to do his job,he has to resign and go”.

Ahluwalia said the Supreme Court and the High Courts have on several occasions have asked the government to deport Bangladesh illegal immigrants. That should be the Home Minister’s first job,he said.

BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said it was a “most shocking and most absurd” comment from Chidambaram on the crime scene in the capital.

“When the Delhi police is facing manpower shortage and have no control over the crimes happening in the city,only God can save the metropolis. If the Delhi Chief Minister or the Home Minister of the country do not want to take responsibility,then who is responsible?” Javadekar said.

The law and order in the Capital was deteriorating,he said,adding,”to blame the labourers and others from states like Bihar,Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand,who have migrated to the Capital,is only reflective of the government’s inability and is an attempt to deflect the attention from their failure.”