Explaining her about-turn, the Chief Minister said that there was no need to have UPCOCA as her Government had already improved law and order in the state by strictly enforcing the existing laws.

“In the term of our Government, the law and order situation has improved, for which the credit should go to the police personnel. Dreaded dacoits like Dadua and Thokia have been killed, other crimes have also gone down considerably. Now there is no need to have UPCOCA, and therefore my Government is withdrawing it with immediate effect,” Mayawati told the media.

Only two days back, Union Minister for State for Home Affairs Sriprakash Jaiswal had indicated that the Centre may not okay UPCOCA. He had also stated that already there were so many laws which were not being implemented forcefully.

Mayawati said her Government initially decided to introduce UPCOCA because of a law and order crisis, “thanks to the previous Government”.

She also pointed out that at the time the strongest protest came from the Congress, “which surprisingly never opposed MCOCA (the Maharashtra Act)”.

“They should now take a lesson from the Uttar Pradesh Government, which has improved law and order by strengthening the existing laws, and should withdraw MCOCA,” said Mayawati.

UPCOCA was first cleared by the Vidhan Sabha on November 5 by a voice vote while the Opposition staged a walkout. However, in the Legislative Council, where the ruling BSP is in a minority, the Bill could not be passed due to strong opposition from the Samajwadi Party.

It was then sent to a select committee for consideration on November 6. The select committee was expected to give its report in 90 days, but the report never came and the Government again tabled it in the Assembly in February 2008 for passage.

While tabling the Bill, Mayawati had stated that UPCOCA would effectively deal with land grabbers, contract killers, kidnappers, contractors, hawala traders, economic offenders, drugs and spurious medicine dealers. The proposed Act was also meant to check public display of firearms.

Mayawati had called the Act fulfillment of the promises made by her during the election campaign when she had promised to free the state of the SP’s jungle raj.