New Delhi: Highlighting the “alarming” rise in crimes, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has proposed a cabinet meeting with the Lieutenant Governor to discuss the matter. In a letter dated June 19, he wrote to LG VK Saxena on rising crimes in the national capital and the dire need to deliberate on the issue. “The seriousness of the situation can be gauged from the heartbreaking fact that four murders have taken place during the last 24 hours in different parts of Delhi,” the letter said.
“As a responsible citizen and representative of over 2 crore Delhi residents, I wish to extend full cooperation in ensuring the rule of law and safeguarding the interests of the people in NCT of Delhi.”
In his letter, the Chief Minister urged the Lieutenant Governor to take immediate and effective measures to restore the confidence of citizens in the safety and security of their lives. The letter said, “Such heinous crimes have shaken Delhi. It is high time that those entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring the safety of the city’s residents, should be reminded time and again in their mandatory duty.” Shouldn’t be seen as a failure.”
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Kejriwal also drew attention to the latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report, which said it should have served as a wake-up call to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Lieutenant Governor, both for ” bear the direct responsibility of “maintaining law and order in Delhi”. He said that it is regrettable that no concrete action has been taken on the basis of this report, which shows that the total number of crimes against women in 19 metropolitan cities of India 32.2 percent of the crimes happen in Delhi alone.
“Given such alarming statistics, there was a need for immediate preventive steps on crimes against women, but unfortunately the Ministry of Home Affairs and you yourself know that nothing has changed on the ground,” the letter said. The AAP supremo alleged a “lack of urgency” by the LG and the MHA in dealing with the issue.
He also pointed to the increase in the number of private security guards hired by residents due to the shortage of Delhi Police personnel. He said, “I am constrained to say that the kind of promptness that is needed to prevent crimes in Delhi is completely missing from the policy makers responsible for maintaining law and order here.”
Emphasizing the need for immediate measures like increasing police patrolling during night time, Kejriwal called for an open dialogue with Delhiites to improve the law and order situation. “I propose a meeting of my cabinet colleagues with you for a meaningful discussion on this important issue,” he said.
He further suggested that police officers should attend joint meetings with elected MLAs, councilors and Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) to find effective strategies to reduce crime in the city. He also called for revival of police station-level committees, which earlier till 2013 served as forums for regular and active engagement between police, public and elected representatives.