MPs alarmed at falling law & order situation in Delhi

NEW DELHI: Cutting across party lines, members of Parliament voiced concern over the law and order situation in the national capital region. Congress MP and Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit’s son Sandeep Dikshit attacked the Delhi Police and said: “Police administration should be serious about the law and order situation. Delhi Police should review the law and order. There should be fear against committing crime. It seems Delhi Police is not keen on basic policing. They immediately reach a construction site but do not show the same promptness in reaching crime site.”

Earlier, Congress MP Mahabal Mishra had blamed Home Minister P Chidambaram for deteriorating law and order condition in the capital. Mishra was commenting on the recent incident where a 22-year-old Delhi University student was shot dead by unidentified assailant near her college in south Delhi on Tuesday. In another incident on Wednesday , a couple on a motorcycle was shot at in Noida. The Congress, however, toed a diplomatic line after its members criticised the Delhi Police, which comes under the Home Ministry. Spokesperson Manish Tewari said: “What happened is most unfortunate . but law and order is the police responsibility. It (jurisdictional issue between the Delhi Government and the Home Ministry) is a complex issue. Let us not take one incident as a benchmark.”

CPM leader Brinda Karat also alleged that the NCR was turning into a “crime haven” . “Yesterday, a girl student was shot dead in broad day light in the capital. Today, a couple was shot at near the capital. It seems the entire region is becoming a haven for crime,” Karat told reporters outside Parliament. Seeking the Home Ministry's intervention, Karat said the city “is not becoming safe for women” .

“The conviction rate is going down and crime rate is going up. So the message is that whatever you do, there would be no punishment,” she said. BJP leader Rajnath Singh said: “Even Delhi Chief Minister has said that women are not safe in Delhi. So the Centre should take some concrete steps to improve the situation.”