Congress leaders meet Governer; allege rise in crime in Rajasthan

JAIPUR: A delegation of Congress leaders led by state party chief Sachin Pilot today called on Governor Kalyan Singh and highlighted the alleged rise in crime in Rajasthan.

The delegation asked the Governor to issue appropriate directions to the state government in this regard.

The delegation included former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, MLAs and former MLAs.

Heinous crimes are on a "rise" in the state but the government is not serious. There is no full-time home minister as the portfolio is handled by the chief minister, who is "focused" on other things like investment, Pilot told reporters here.

There was no superintendent of police in Kota where a seven-year-old boy was abducted and murdered, he said. Listing down a series of crimes that have recently taken place in the state, he claimed that the state government is not taking any measures.

Pilot claimed that cases of serious crimes increased by 21 per cent in eight months from January to August this year as compared to the corresponding period last year.

Police act was passed in 2007 but the government has not formed its rules so far. Around 15,000 posts are lying vacant in police department and there are no recruitments, he said. The situation is very bad and needs to be addressed properly, he said.

Accusing the BJP government of "misusing" government machinery in the bypolls on four assembly seats in September, Pilot said that it would again try to misuse the machinery in the coming local body elections.

Pilot said his party would give a chance to educated young leaders in the local body elections.

"I am of the view that young leaders should be given opportunities and chances and I have apprised the observers about it," he said.

The candidates would be young and those who have lost elections two times would not be given a chance again in the local body elections, he added.