The law and order issue rocked the State Assembly on Monday as a united Opposition lambasted the Akhilesh Yadav Government for increase in crime, particularly against the fairer sex, saying women are no longer safe in Uttar Pradesh.
BJP and BSP members staged a walkout, raising anti-Government slogans.
The Government, on the other hand, claimed that the law and order situation in UP is better than BJP-ruled Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh which stood at third and fourth place in the National Crime Bureau Records (NCRB). In the NCRB report ranking, UP is on 23rd position.
“We are serious in improving law and order. Preventive measures have been taken. Action would also be taken against the erring officials,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister Azam Khan said.
The issue of law and order was raised in the State Assembly twice, first during the Question Hour and then through an adjournment motion in the Zero Hour.
In the Question Hour, Khan said that law and order situation is better in UP as compared to other States. “The incident of rape and murder of two sisters in Badaun was blown out of proportion though the UP Government had arrested the culprits and had ordered a CBI probe on the demand of family members,” he said.
But the Opposition members continued their charges against the Government alleging that in the Badaun case, the Government tried to protect the accused. “There is anarchy all around the State,” said laxmikant Bajpai (BJP).
He also claimed that after the Badaun case, 86 rape incidents were reported in the State, but the Government did nothing to prevent such crimes.
leader of the Opposition and BSP member Swami Prasad Maurya said that goons are having a field day in the State while the Government was playing to the hands of the mafia.
He claimed that every day, dozen of girls are being raped in the State and now women are afraid of going outside. Satish Mahana (BJP), too, expressed his concern over the matter and alleged that the criminals are not afraid of police in the present regime.
Both the leaders criticised the State DGP for making a statement that in Badaun case, rape has been established on just one girl. Pradeep Mathur (Congress) and Rashtriya lok Dal leader Dalbir Singh, too, expressed their annoyance over the state of affairs.