Earlier offenders went scot-free, now they are in jail: Deputy CM Dinesh Sharma

The BJP came to power on the promise of zero tolerance to crime. But there has been a spike in the crime rate.
Our government is committed to check crime. Whosoever flouts the law will be strictly dealt with. Recorded crimes seem to be high but there is a reason for that. In the earlier regime, cases were not registered. If cases are not registered, they will not reflect in numbers. Our government is registering FIRs (first information reports) even for minor crimes. Even serious crime like rape and dacoity were not reported or registered earlier. When we came to power, we gave an order that all incidents of crime must be registered. Expectedly, the numbers have risen and we are aware that the opposition is highlighting this. We are not saying that no crime is happening. All offenders have been nabbed and due action has been taken in all incidents. Arrests have been made — be it in the incidents of loot in Sitapur, the Mathura incident, or the Firozabad and Raebareli incidents. Earlier, offenders went scot-free.

Regarding the Raebareli incident, your own cabinet minister Swamy Prasad Maurya said those (five Brahmins) who were killed were goons, so it was not a crime to kill them.
He had said that in some context. I had a word with him. He had said that a criminal is a criminal; when a reporter asked about a particular person (a Brahmin) who was arrested, he said that the person has a case registered against him, which the media played up.


On the perception in some quarters that the government is anti-minority.
The minorities feel most secure now. Has anyone heard of an incident targeted at the minorities in UP? Even if an effort was made to create disharmony, immediate action was taken and the person was nabbed — irrespective of which party or organisation they belonged to. We aim to bring all the people of the state into the mainstream and improve the state’s condition.

At the same time we do not believe in appeasement. Humara kaam hai ki humare Musalmaan varg ke logo ka development ho (We aim to develop people from the Muslim community). Ek haath mein pavitra Koran ho aur ek haath mein computer ho — yahi humara lakshya hai (Out aim is to see Muslims holding the Koran in one hand and a computer in the other). There should be modern education in madarsas... All must be part of the mainstream, there should be no discrimination, no distinction between Hindus and Muslims. All must become citizens of Uttar Pradesh and Hindustan.

On charges of vendetta politics.
The BJP does not believe in pratishod (retaliation). It is the responsibility of any government that in case of any complaint, it must get an inquiry conducted without partiality. And the accused must be dealt as per law. The government is doing what it must.

On the mysterious explosive material found in the Vidhan Sabha.
Surely, some anti-national mind is at work. UP as well as the Centre has a government of nationalists. Anti-nationals can’t see a successful rashtravadi government, as a strong UP means a strong India. But people can day-dream about destabilising this mini-India; I know they will never be successful. Stringent action will be taken against anti-nationals.

UP’s budget saw a cut in the allocation for secondary and higher education.
It is not like that. Efforts are on to stop apavyaya (profligacy). UP’s education system is witnessing a big change in its policies and customs. There is a disparity in teachers’ pay and posting policy. We are launching a more agreeable teachers’ transfer policy. They must focus only on teaching, there must be classes for over 220 days, a teaching calendar must be brought out. Money must be spent on improving the quality of teaching. Students who graduate must be employable — efforts are on in this front. Money that was being spent on construction work has been stopped but not on education. Not a penny has been cut for secondary and higher education. At the same time wastage have been checked. The diversion of money in the name of construction work has been stopped.

On the CM’s role in controlling law and order.
Every day, the CM does a review; new orders are being given based on inputs. Look at the way criminals are being nabbed. There is zero tolerance towards crime. The coming days will see the result of these efforts. UP will emerge as a state with the lowest crime rate.

On the alleged association between the men of the Hindu Yuva Vahini (HYV) and the CM, which is why they are considered a favoured lot.
The CM has given very clear instructions: whosoever flouts the law must be dealt with strictly by the police — be it people from any political party or any outfit, including the Hindu Yuva Vahini. I do not think there has been any adverse news against HYV men lately but whenever any complaint has come, due action has been taken.

On alleged violence by gau rakshaks.
After PM Narendra Modi’s statement (on July 17, in which he asked state governments to crack down on cow vigilantes indulging in violence), the CM and the state BJP president (Keshav Prasad Maurya) have made their stance clear. Jo prime minister ka stand hai vahi pradesh sarkar ka stand hai (The prime minister’s stand is the state government’s stand).