UP govt has failed to ensure security of women: Sushma Swaraj

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj accused the Uttar Pradesh government of failing on law and order front, leading to a spurt in crime against women in the state.

Lucknow: Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj on Saturday accused the Uttar Pradesh government of failing on law and order front, leading to a spurt in crime against women in the state.

Quoting government`s reply in the state Assembly, Sushma said 632 rape cases were reported in the state in the last one year. "This means one rape is taking place every 13 hours," she said, addressing a rally of party`s women wing. Alleging presence of criminal elements in the government, Sushma said in the backdrop of a deteriorating law and order, UP has "broken all records" of crime against women. Drawing out a comparison, Sushma claimed the BJP-ruled states stand at the bottom of the chart as far as crime against women is concerned. She claimed women in Uttar Pradesh were far more safe when the BJP government headed by Kalyan Singh was in power. Taking a jibe at Akhilesh Yadav, she said people voted with a hope that a young chief minister will come out with new ideas, but sadly, this government has been "exposed" in a year. She also called for a two-pronged strategy -- change in people`s mindset, along with generating a fear of law -- to ensure women a dignified co-existence. "What an irony that in a country where people worship girls twice in a year during Navratra, woman are forced for abortion if they are carrying a girl in their womb," Swaraj said. PTI