The Hindu : National : “Kiran Bedi’s integrity cannot be questioned”

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Friday, Jul 27, 2007
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“Kiran Bedi’s integrity cannot be questioned”

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Girija Vyas, chairperson of the National Commission for Women (NCW), on Thursday said the panel would have been happy if senior IPS officer Kiran Bedi had been made Delhi’s Police Commissioner.

Ms. Vyas told a press conference that Ms. Bedi had made a mark wherever she served and her integrity cannot be questioned. “But these are administrative matters,” she said.

“Change the mindset”

However, Ms. Vyas said there was a need to change the mindset against women. “There has been some change but more needs to be done.”

Reacting sharply to the “denial” of the top post to Ms. Bedi, chairperson of the Guild of Service and the War Widows Association Mohini Giri said she wondered how long women would be silent spectators while they continued to be ignored when they reached the top and could make a difference to society.

In a statement, Ms. Giri said: “While we talk a lot about women’s empowerment, when the opportunity arises we deny senior women achievers, with proven ability, their rightful elevation to the highest posts —particularly in the Government.”

Denial of top posts

A few months ago, Veena Sikri, a Foreign Service officer, was denied the post of Foreign Secretary despite her seniority and competence.

Earlier, Reva Nayyar, Secretary of Women and Child Development, was also edged out of the post of Cabinet Secretary.

Now Ms. Bedi, a Magsaysay award winner and the seniormost police officer from Delhi, has been denied the post of Police Commissioner.

Crimes against women in the city were increasing by leaps and bounds.

One would think that at this juncture the services of a woman police commissioner would send out a message to the criminals, the statement said.

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