Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader in the state assembly Aradhana Mishra ‘Mona’ on Tuesday accused the Yogi Adityanath-led government in Uttar Pradesh of losing public trust and allowing criminals to flout the law with impunity.
She demanded strict action against those making indecent remarks about Rahul Gandhi, criticising the government for failing to crack down on criminals and instead allegedly honouring them with flower garlands. Mishra questioned how crime could be controlled under such circumstances.
Senior Congress leaders held press conferences across the state, with state president and former minister Ajay Rai addressing the media in Varanasi.
Mishra condemned the deteriorating law and order situation and police harassment in Uttar Pradesh. She accused the BJP government of discriminatory practices, saying that actions are taken based on caste and religion, with criminals affiliated with the BJP receiving protection. She claimed that the state government has failed to prevent crime effectively.
Mishra argued that the Yogi government has lost both public trust and criminal fear.
Despite Yogi Adityanath’s claims of zero tolerance for crime and his self-praise on law and order, the reality is starkly different, she added.
She cited the Ministry of Home Affairs data showing Uttar Pradesh had the highest number of crimes against women in 2022, with 65,743 cases reported. In 2023, Uttar Pradesh registered 16,109 complaints of heinous crimes out of a national total of 28,811, marking the highest incidence among all states.
She further highlighted that according to the NCRB’s ‘Crime in India Report 2022’, Uttar Pradesh ranks highest in murder, rape, kidnapping, and other crimes against women.
Mishra criticised the government for not implementing effective measures to curb crime and accused it of caste-based and religious discrimination in its responses to criminal activities. She also alleged that under the current administration, the police failed to complete investigations into 11,732 cases of crimes against women in 2021 and settled 66,936 cases at the police stations in 2022.
She claimed evidence was not gathered in 13,097 cases, despite valid complaints.
She lamented that law and order in Uttar Pradesh have deteriorated under Yogi Adityanath’s rule, transforming the state into a haven for crime where no one is safe.
Mishra criticised the chief minister for using derogatory language and creating fear among specific communities, while disrespecting the Constitution and allowing police to act unilaterally.
She pointed to several high-profile incidents, such as the rape case in Jhansi, the alleged fake encounter of Mangesh Yadav in Jaunpur, and the murder of a woman in Kanpur, as evidence of a lawless environment.
Mishra accused the chief minister of promoting the ‘Bulldozer Baba’ image and mocking the state’s residents by demolishing homes and displacing families.
She cited recent alleged biased actions in cases such as the Gomti Nagar molestation and the Sultanpur robbery, highlighting alleged favouritism and discriminatory practices within the police force.
Mishra said that the state is plagued by insecurity and criminal dominance, criticising the BJP government and Yogi Adityanath for failing to ensure safety and a fear-free environment for the people of Uttar Pradesh.
