Despite more and more incidents of rapes being reported every day following the Badaun episode, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday continued to assert that the law and order situation in the State was ‘good’ and ‘better’ than many other parts of the country.
Yadav, who was in the Capital to attend an Investors Conclave organised by the UP Government, has been under all-round attack following the Badaun rape incident. Speaking to reporters at the sidelines of the investor meeting, Yadav insisted that officials have been instructed to take stern action against the culprits and reach the incident spot first which will ensure that no politics is played.
Refusing to accept that the State reflected a poor situation as regards crimes against women, Chief Minister said, “It (law and order situation) is good in UP and better than in many other States ... That is why they (investors) have come in such large numbers.”
Be it any Government, it has to continously work on law and order and his Government too was working to improve matters, he said.
later in the day he called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and stressed on the need for the Centre and the State Government becoming partners in development. “Our stand has been that development of Uttar Pradesh has to be in partnership with the Centre. I said we want to continue with it,” Yadav told reporters after the meeting.
He said the ‘big’ participation by investors at the meet was evidence that the law and order situation was alright in UP. “Whenever somebody asks me about this (law and order), I say it is a very important subject and it is the Government’s responsibility to ensure that it remains in good condition,” Yadav said.
Asked whether the issue of funds for the State and Ganga cleaning came up for discussion with the PM, Yadav said it was a ‘courtesy call’. “I came to congratulate him,” he said.
Commenting on Modi’s address in Parliament, he said, “I read the newspapers and saw on television too. I could not hear the entire speech but the new PM has said (in his speech in Parliament) that the country will get prosperity only when State Governments and the Central Government work together,” he said.
Referring to Modi’s call for skill development, Yadav said the UP Government has already taken steps to develop skills of the youth.