Date:13/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/13/stories/2008101357470400.htm

New Delhi

Delhi now the crime Capital too: BJP

Staff Reporter

Party expresses concern over safety of women

‘Home Ministry is responsible for the present condition’
‘Terrorism is also striking deep roots in the city’

NEW DELHI: Expressing concern over the safety of women in the city, Bharatiya Janata Party’s chief ministerial candidate V. K. Malhotra has said that Delhi has become the crime capital of the country.

Speaking at a symposium on “Safety of women: How safe we are!” organised here over the weekend by the Delhi BJP, Prof. Malhotra said the recent murder of media person Soumya Viswanathan had highlighted the point that working women in Delhi were not safe. “Not only is the number of crime incidents increasing every day but terrorism is also striking deep roots in the city,” he added.

Pointing out that the responsibility of law and order in Delhi lay with the Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, the senior BJP leader said: “The Home Ministry is fully responsible for the present condition in Delhi where the common man is living under fear and terror.”

He demanded the resignation of the Union Home Minister.

The BJP leader said if his party came to power in Delhi the common man would be provided complete security and effective steps will be taken for the security of women.

Stating that the Capital had become an unsafe city for women in the past ten years of the Congress rule, BJP leader Sushma Swaraj said women were kidnapped in broad daylight, they were publicly insulted, looted and criminally assaulted. “Which time and which area of the Capital is safe? As a woman Ms. Dikshit has become completely insensitive towards the safety of women. The comment made by her that women should not be adventurous is very regrettable,” added Ms. Swaraj.

Paying tributes to Soumya Viswanathan, Delhi BJP president Harsh Vardhan said heinous crimes have been committed on women during the Congress rule.

Referring to the Jessica Lal and Priyadarshini Mattoo’s murder cases, Dr. Vardhan said the judiciary took the positive cognisance of the cases only due to media efforts.

“Delhi is not a safe city because of the number of crimes against senior citizens and women.”