Jaiswal accuses Modi Govt of failing to check crime rate

Ahmedabad, Feb 15 (UNI) Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Sriprakash Jaiswal has accused the Gujarat Government of failing to check the crime rate in the State saying the rate has risen over the past six years.

Addressing a press conference here today, Mr Jaiswal claimed that 3,400 children are missing from the State and the government has done nothing to trace them. Atrocities against SCs/STs too have risen in Gujarat, he claimed.

''Here is a state that can set an example for others in respect of industrial growth. But, if the law and order is bad, then it would adversely affect the industrialisation,'' he remarked.

''We do not want to compare Gujarat with states like UP or Bihar.

We are only comparing the law and order situation prevailing today to the situation six years back,'' he said.

Quoting figures available with him, Mr Jaiswal said there had been 847 serious cases like murder, rape and arson in Gujarat during 2003. That number had risen to 1015 in 2004, 1965 cases in 2005 and 1991 cases last year.

To queries, Mr Jaiswal denied any political intentions behind his Gujarat visit.

Speaking about the non-screening of the film ''Parzania'' in Gujarat, Mr Jaiswal asked, ''Why throttle democracy?'' The State Government should deal firmly with those elements who are responsible for preventing the release of the film in Gujarat, he said while alleging that the Gujarat Government had not acted firmly even during the release of ''Fanaa''.

Avoiding a direct reply to a question pertaining to the Gujcoc bill pending with the Centre, Mr Jaiswal, however, said the State Government should implement a revamped police act and the Centre will accord its support for the same. The Centre is contemplating to pass a bill aimed at a new police act during the Budget Session of the Parliament, he said.

Mr Jaiswal claimed that internal security in the country has vastly improved. Infiltration and terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir have reduced, while the situation in Assam has also improved and the National Games are being conducted peacefully there, he said.

He commended the Andhra Pradesh Government for effectively tackling the Naxalites menace but added that the situation in Chattisgarh and Orissa needs to be bettered.

UNI