Law and order top priority of UP govt: Mayawati

Lucknow, Feb 25: Rebutting all allegations of the opposition parties, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati today asserted that maintaining law and order in the state was the top priority of the BSP government and crime had gone down in her regime.

In comparison to 2006-07, a phenomenal dip has been witnessed in cases of dacoity, loot, rape, murder and abduction in 2007-08. Similarly, the state has also witnessed a downswing in SC/ST and women harassment cases, Mayawati added in a written reply to Samajwadi Party (SP) member Naresh Agarwal. She claimed that at present, crime was under control. Cases are registered without procrastination and the accused are stringently dealt with. ''Communal harmony, peace and justice rule the roost in UP,'' the CM underlined.

''I am committed to maintain law and order situation in UP...after forming the government in May 2007, the first thing I did was to direct senior police officials to tackle crime on priority basis. They had been directed to either pull up socks or be ready to face the music,'' she maintained.

To uproot goons and mafias from the state, necessary directives are issued at the DGP level. The law and order situation is also reviewed from time to time. Several government-level senior officials are also sent to districts, who directly ask people about their opinion on the present law and order situation in the state, she added.

UNI