Policing in Delhi is Centre’s responsibility, says Dikshit
15 Jan 2013 2:41 AM GMT
Days after Union minister Jairam Ramesh complained about Delhi’s ‘most dubious’ reputation from women’s safety point of view, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Monday said policing in her state is the responsibility of the Centre.
In her reply to Ramesh, who last week gave suggestions to improve women’s security in the national capital region, she also asked the Rural Development Minister to use his good office to persuade the Centre to restore people’s confidence in the law and order set-up.
‘While appreciating your concern for the safety of women in Delhi, you are aware that policing in Delhi is directly under the administrative control of the central government. You may, therefore, like to take up the matter with the central government for taking urgent steps to restore confidence in law-and-order machinery,’ she said.
In her letter, Dikshit narrated the steps taken by her administration to improve the security of women after the 16 December gangrape incident.
She said the ‘181’ helpline cell is now fully operated by women and well-trained female staff have been deployed to make the helpline efficient and user friendly.
‘Necessary instructions have also been issued to Delhi Police regarding the ‘181’ helpline and for taking timely and suitable action on the calls/complaints forwarded to police by the women in distress cell,’ she said emphasising that ‘181’ is a ‘helpline and is meant to complement the existing facilities’. In his letter to Dikshit, Ramesh had suggested that the women helpline should only have women telephone operators so that a caller can convey her problem without any hesitation.
Replying to Ramesh’s suggestion for ‘women special buses and deployment of trained women drivers for these specials, the chief minister said Delhi Transport Corporation is operating 23 ladies special buses between major residential hubs and major hubs of office and other important destinations.
The number of DTC buses plying during the night has been increased to 89 on 22 routes (from 38 buses plying on 8 routes earlier) and home guards have been deployed in them.
COPS OBJECT TO GATHERINGS AT CM’S RESIDENCE
Delhi Police have asked Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit’s office to organise programmes with large gathering at the Secretariat instead of her residence in Central Delhi citing security concerns.
In a letter to the Delhi Home Department recently, police said supporters of Congress and groups of people from the recently approved unauthorised colonies have started converging in large numbers at the 3, Motilal Nehru Marg Residence of Dikshit.
‘They gather initially on the Moti Lal Nehru Marg, choking it completely, before gaining entry into the CM’s residence,’ Taj Hassan, Joint Commissioner of Police, Central Range, said in the letter. Noting that Judges of Supreme Court and Delhi High Court also reside in the vicinity of Dikshit’s residence, Hassan said the ‘safety and security of these dignitaries is also compromised due to the presence of these large crowds.’
He suggested that visits of such large groups may be organised at the Chief Minister’s office in the Secretariat where ‘ample space’ is available for the public.
Meanwhile, BJP used the opportunity to attack Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and Dikshit. ‘This is being done to divert the attention of the people deliberately in this election year because nobody wants to own responsibility and hence they are accusing each other,’ Delhi BJP chief Vijender Gupta.
DENIES CRITICISING PM
In the eye of a storm over her remarks that PM Manmohan Singh’s reaction on the gangrape incident came a ‘week too late’, Shiela Dikshit on Monday denied making such a statement. ‘The CM has talked to the AICC General Secretary Janardan Dwivedi and has told him that she has not said any such thing. What has been reported is wrong’, party spokesman Rashid Alvi quoted Dikshit as having told Dwivedi.
In her reply to Ramesh, who last week gave suggestions to improve women’s security in the national capital region, she also asked the Rural Development Minister to use his good office to persuade the Centre to restore people’s confidence in the law and order set-up.
‘While appreciating your concern for the safety of women in Delhi, you are aware that policing in Delhi is directly under the administrative control of the central government. You may, therefore, like to take up the matter with the central government for taking urgent steps to restore confidence in law-and-order machinery,’ she said.
In her letter, Dikshit narrated the steps taken by her administration to improve the security of women after the 16 December gangrape incident.
She said the ‘181’ helpline cell is now fully operated by women and well-trained female staff have been deployed to make the helpline efficient and user friendly.
‘Necessary instructions have also been issued to Delhi Police regarding the ‘181’ helpline and for taking timely and suitable action on the calls/complaints forwarded to police by the women in distress cell,’ she said emphasising that ‘181’ is a ‘helpline and is meant to complement the existing facilities’. In his letter to Dikshit, Ramesh had suggested that the women helpline should only have women telephone operators so that a caller can convey her problem without any hesitation.
Replying to Ramesh’s suggestion for ‘women special buses and deployment of trained women drivers for these specials, the chief minister said Delhi Transport Corporation is operating 23 ladies special buses between major residential hubs and major hubs of office and other important destinations.
The number of DTC buses plying during the night has been increased to 89 on 22 routes (from 38 buses plying on 8 routes earlier) and home guards have been deployed in them.
COPS OBJECT TO GATHERINGS AT CM’S RESIDENCE
Delhi Police have asked Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit’s office to organise programmes with large gathering at the Secretariat instead of her residence in Central Delhi citing security concerns.
In a letter to the Delhi Home Department recently, police said supporters of Congress and groups of people from the recently approved unauthorised colonies have started converging in large numbers at the 3, Motilal Nehru Marg Residence of Dikshit.
‘They gather initially on the Moti Lal Nehru Marg, choking it completely, before gaining entry into the CM’s residence,’ Taj Hassan, Joint Commissioner of Police, Central Range, said in the letter. Noting that Judges of Supreme Court and Delhi High Court also reside in the vicinity of Dikshit’s residence, Hassan said the ‘safety and security of these dignitaries is also compromised due to the presence of these large crowds.’
He suggested that visits of such large groups may be organised at the Chief Minister’s office in the Secretariat where ‘ample space’ is available for the public.
Meanwhile, BJP used the opportunity to attack Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and Dikshit. ‘This is being done to divert the attention of the people deliberately in this election year because nobody wants to own responsibility and hence they are accusing each other,’ Delhi BJP chief Vijender Gupta.
DENIES CRITICISING PM
In the eye of a storm over her remarks that PM Manmohan Singh’s reaction on the gangrape incident came a ‘week too late’, Shiela Dikshit on Monday denied making such a statement. ‘The CM has talked to the AICC General Secretary Janardan Dwivedi and has told him that she has not said any such thing. What has been reported is wrong’, party spokesman Rashid Alvi quoted Dikshit as having told Dwivedi.
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