Blaming the previous Samajwadi Party regime for the all-round mess and decline in the capacity of institutions to enforce the rule of law DUE TO patronage to criminals, the UP government said in the assembly that it has a focused approach towards maintaining law and order.
“The BJP government inherited a government where institutional frame work of the state had almost collapsed where criminals and autolifters were openly patronized by the previous Samajwadi Party government. The BJP regime has a clear `niti’ (policy) and `niyat’ (intention) for maintaining firm grip on law and order with the ultimate objective of bringing positive change in the lives of the common people,’’ said Parliamentary Affairs minister Suresh Khanna. He was tabling budgetary grants of Home department in the Assembly on Wednesday.
“We have inherited a moth-eaten system and it will take some time to clear the mess. Yogi Adityanath is a ‘sanyasi’ who is welcomed by the society. The government has taken a slew of measures for curbing crime and directives have been issued for the registration of 100 percent FIRs,’’ said Khanna.
“The law and order situation is fast returning to normal. law and order cannot be improved overnight. Give us some time and it is our promise to provide better law and order in the state,” the minister said.
Khanna detailed,”The UP Police achieved a record by recovering 63.44 per cent of looted valuables across the state during the last four month. The number of murders has also come down after the BJP came to power. While it was 1512 in 2016, the number came down to 1434 in 2017 - a decrease of 5.16 per cent.’’
The minister claimed that the crime rate in the state was much below the national average and the situation was fast changing under the Yogi government. He said that clear directives have been issued by the DGP that complainants not be harassed and targeted for filing complaints.
The government also announced that 3,307 ssub-inspectors in the police department would be recruited by December while 30,000 constables and 2000 sub-inspectors would be appointed every year for the next five years. Quoting NCRB reports, Khanna claimed that the crime rate in the state was much less compared to other states like Kerala, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.
In the absence of the Opposition members, the minister said that the Opposition always raise issue of law and order but on the other hand they are not ready to hear the government’s reply.
leader of the House and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was not present in the Assembly as he was away to Ayodhya and was likely to give his reply on the budget of Home department on Thursday. The Finance and Appropriation Bill is also likely to be adopted by the House on Thursday.
Citing statistics, Khanna claimed that the incidence of crime in UP was 112.1 per lakh of population but in the country it was 202.2 and in Kerala 723 and MP 348.
Similarly crime against women in the state is 34.8 per one lakh population which was 53.4 in Kerala, 54.8 in Maharashtra, 65.5 in MP while the country average is 53.9.
The minister said that the campaign against illegal slaughter houses, land mafia and anti-Romeo campaign yielded positive results and helped restore law and order. He said that only illegal slaughter houses have been closed and 41 licensed slaughter houses were running normally. Similarly under the anti-Romeo action, 763 cases were filed and action was taken against 1580 persons. He said that 2,092 FIRs were registered against land mafia and 5,395 hectares of government land were freed from the mafia.