Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Wednesday called on Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde and is understood to have discussed about the law and order situation in the city. In another development, she also called on Congress president Sonia Gandhi and is believed to have apprised her about the party’s preparation for the upcoming Assembly polls. The meeting lasted for around 35 minutes.
Sources said Dikshit, during her meeting with Shinde, expressed unhappiness over the prevailing law and order situation and specifically drew his attention towards rising cases of crime. They said Dikshit has told the Home Minister that the situation remained unchanged as no visible improvement in policing has been witnessed in the city in the last four months despite assurances by police to enhance security for women in the wake of the December 16 gang-rape incident.
When asked about the meeting, the Chief Minister described it as a routine one. Asked about the reports that Transport department of Delhi Government was stonewalling information required for a detailed investigation into December 16 gang-rape incident, Dikshit said she was examining the matter. “I am in touch with transport department.... There should be action against the negligent officer... There should be investigation. This is a serious matter,” she said.
Asked about Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar, Dikshit said, “He is retiring in July so what is there to be done.”
The Chief Minister was critical of Kumar’s performance in the wake of the gang-rape incident and had even demanded his resignation.