Zeenews Bureau
Lucknow: The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh announced on Tuesday that her government has taken an important decision to bring about an amendment in the Criminal Procedure Code to tackle crime.
Mayawati said that the cabinet will submit a resolution to the Governor to bring about changes in Section 435 and 439, so that no bail is given to the accused until proven innocent.
Also, an amendment in Section 354 will be sought so that offenses under that section should is made non-bailable. This section is bailable as of now. The CM also wants, “A stipulated time frame of six months to investigate and wrap up rape cases.”
Mayawati has been facing the heat due to a rise of crime in the state especially against women. Hitting back at her critics, the Chief Minister said that her government has “always been serious about law and order”.
Emphasizing that her regime was serious in its efforts to tackle crime, the CM outlined that in the past year “ten thousand FIR’s were registered in UP, out of which 1460 cases were registered by the women”. She did admit though that some women may not have come forward due to societal pressures.
While accepting the fact that there were administrative lapses in the recent spate of crime in UP, she said that all those found wanting had not been spared and had either been dismissed or suspended. She cited the examples of Lakhimpur and Kannuj rape cases.
Mayawati did rue the fact that though moral values in the society were on the decline and people who were “characterless” had come to the forefront.
To prove her seriousness about tackling crime, Mayawati said that that on June 27 she has called for a state-wide meeting of all police officials of all the zones to charter a course of action to curb the menace of rising crime. She will chair the meeting herself.
The CM also revealed the plan of launching a one month special campaign in the state wherein all personnel at all police stations in the state will be asked to bring anti-social elements into the mainstream. If criminals refuse to rectify themselves, then strict action would be taken against them.
Hitting back at the opposition for relentlessly attacking her, Mayawati said that they were only trying to get mileage out of the recent issues. She advised them that instead of playing politics, the opposition should indulge in constructive work and create awareness in the society and support the government.
BSP supremo also had a word of advice for the media. She said that instead of vying with each other in reporting the story first, they should have patience and verify the facts before reporting. She said that in a hurry to report first, sometimes facts get distorted.
With assembly elections due in Uttar Pradesh next year, the opposition, from the Congress to the Samajwadi Party has been quick to attack the BSP government on all issues, whether it is the issue of farmers’ agitation against land acquisition or a series of rape cases especially involving minors.
First Published: Tuesday, June 21, 2011, 17:45