The Hindu : Front Page : Governor demolishes Mulayam's claims

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Friday, Nov 24, 2006
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Governor demolishes Mulayam's claims

Special Correspondent

LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh Governor, T. V. Rajeswar, on Thursday demolished Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav's recent claims on the law and order situation in the State by expressing displeasure at the functioning of the police force. He pulled up the police for "the rising crime rate" and said police officers had functioned in a blatantly partial manner in the recent local bodies elections across the State.

In fact, the Governor warned the police officers to be cautious during the upcoming Vidhan Sabha elections due early next year.

Addressing a gathering that included the Chief Minister and senior Government officials after inaugurating the annual Police Week celebrations here, the Governor said he had received nearly 1,000 complaints of poll irregularities that were referred to Government officials but no report was forthcoming. He said some officials had failed to perform their duties impartially.

Mr. Rajeswar, who is a former IPS officer, expressed his dismay at "the large number of arms licences (840,000) given in U.P. of which 360 were for carbines". He said that according to his information 14 MPs and 81 MLAs were among the recipients of carbine licences.

Over 2,500 persons were given security cover of whom 10 were student leaders, he added. Dubbing western U.P. (Bulandshahr, Etah and Ghaziabad) as the kidnapping region of the State, he said the kidnapping industry was worth Rs. 200 crore.

Soon after the Governor's address to the policemen, the Chief Minister went on the defensive claiming that Mr. Rajeswar's ire was directed at some police officers.

He said if the Governor received 1,000 complaints then he should also know how many of them were genuine.

Talking to newspersons later, the Chief Minister offered a word of advice for the Governor.

He said he would remind Mr. Rajeswar that sanctity was attached to the Governor's office and he should strive to uphold it instead of interfering in Government functioning.

"The Governor's is a Constitutional post and he should only fulfil his Constitutional responsibilities," the Chief Minister added.

Mr. Yadav reiterated that the law and order and crime situation in the State had improved and said a fact-finding commission should be set up under a sitting Supreme Court judge to verify the law and order situation in UP, Delhi and Mumbai.

Referring to the carbine licences, he said the Governor should know that these licences were cleared by the Centre.

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