New Delhi, Jan 20 (UNI) Slamming the Manohar Lal Khattar government in Haryana over the rising incidents of rape in the state, the Congress, alleging a breakdown of law and order, demanded dismissal of the state government and imposition of President's rule in the state.
The Congress also demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi break his silence on the rising incidents of rapes in Haryana and spell out a plan for checking such crimes in his 'Mann Ki Baat' programme.
Addressing a joint press conference with senior party leader Kumari Selja and Haryana Congress leader Kiran Chaudhry, All India Mahila Congress chief Sushmita Deb said, 'There is a complete breakdown of law and order in the state of Haryana. It is shocking to see that with incidents of crime every day and frequent cases of rape, Haryana seems to have become the rape capital of India.
What is more appalling is the attitude of Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. Rather than concentrate on preventing such heinous crimes against women in the state and taking serious actio against culprits, is focussed more on asking political statements and playing the blame game.
The Manohar Lal Khattar government has failed to take any steps to check the rising incidents of rapes in the state. We demand that Mr Khattar should resign as Chief Minister for his inability to check such incidents. If he does not resign, he should be dismissed and President's rule should be imposed in the state.'
She said a delegation of senior leaders of the Congress, which included Ms Selja and Ms Chaudhry, met the Governor of Haryana on January 17 and gave a memorandum to him demanding strict action against the culprits, a free and fair investigation and give a permanent job to family members of the victims, not just give them compensation of Rs 4 lakh.
Ms Deb said the Congress delegation has also demanded that the governor should impose president's rule in the state.
'We had also pointed out that in the present situation where they have been 10 rapes in 12 dys and a women is raped every 12 hrs we believe that the situation is grave . We believe that it is a failure of the law and order situation. As the Home minister of the state, Mr Khattar has a direct accountability for the situation,' she said.
Pointing out the promises made by Mr Khattar to ensure security of women in the state through steps like providing them training for self defence, she said, 'As the primary opposition party I want to ask that 12 fast track courts were set up to check crimes against women. Has the khattar government taken any step to take the vision forward.'
Questioning the silence of the PM in the matter, Ms Deb said,'the PM should., in his 'Mann Ki Baat' programme next week, talk about the plan of action of this government to check the rising incidents of rape in Haryana. He should also tell us what targets has he given to the Haryana CM towards ensuring women security. He should tell us whether his 'Beti Bachao Beti Padao' campaign' is just a 'jumla'.'
She pointed out that it was the BJP which had asked for resignation of Dr Manmohan Singh as PM and Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit when the Nirbhaya rape incident took place .in 2012.
'What is that party doing morally or practically for security of women. We want the PM to answer these questions in his 'Mann Ki Baat' programme next week,' she said.
Speaking on the occasion, Ms Selja said, 'Every other day incidents of rape are reported from the state. Women no longer feel safe in the state . Since 2014, there has been a constant rise in crime incidents in the state.
Al this makes a mockery of the 'Beti Bachao Beti Padao' slogan.
"We had met the Governor on these issues.. One of the demands made was imposition of President's rule in the state since law and order has collapsed. in the state. Thrice during this government, the DGP of the state has been changed."
Ms Chaudhry said that during the rule of Khattar Government, the state was seen to be burning. 'This shows that the law and order in the state has collapsed and the situation in not in control of the state government,' she said.
UNI AR SW 1635