Dikshit blamed for 'passing the buck' as she raises fears over women's safety
Delhi's chief minister Sheila Dikshit believes the city's police are failing to preserve women's safety
Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit once again played the "helpless administrator" on Wednesday by raising fears over the security of women in the national Capital.
Dikshit, who has been lobbying hard to bring the Delhi Police under the purview of the Delhi government, said women do not feel safe in the city, while referring to an attempted rape incident in South Delhi.
Dikshit was talking to reporters on the sidelines of a function at the Delhi government secretariat. Dikshit's remark has drawn flak from various political parties, with the BJP alleging that Sheila always tries to shirk her responsibility and pass the buck to others.
Worrying point
The chief minister expressed her concern while speaking on an attempted rape incident in the Jal Vihar area of Lajpat Nagar on Monday night, when an electrician allegedly attempted to rape his 19-year-old neighbour and shoved an iron road inside her mouth when she tried to scream for help.
The victim, a Class X student, was badly injured in the attack and is undergoing treatment at a city hospital.
The police have arrested the accused, identified as Anil.
Delhi Commission of Women has also taken cognizance of the incident.
"Women don't feel safe in Delhi. There is no feeling of security. What happened yesterday in Lajpat Nagar is shocking. The incident has raised our worries," said Dikshit.
This is not the first time the CM has raised questions about the security of women. In December last year, after the gang-rape of a 23-year-old paramedical student in a moving chartered bus in South Delhi, Sheila attacked the Delhi police for their alleged security lapses.
She demanded the resignation of the police chief and said the force would function better under the state government.
At present, the Delhi police report to the governor of the capital and to the Union home ministry.
"My government would do everything possible to address safety concerns of women. A number of steps have already been taken in this regard. When we talk about security, we know the police are there. But there is no satisfaction about security even then," she said.
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The Delhi government had last week sent a letter to Union home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde accusing the police of completely deviating from their core duties and trivialising the issue of women's safety.
Taking a dig at the chief minister, BJP leader Smriti Irani said the statement is a clear admission of bad governance.
"She is trying to pass the buck to the Congress government in Centre, while the reality is that the Congress as whole has failed to secure the citizens of this country."
Irani further said Dikshit should fulfil her responsibilities as an elected leader of the Capital, rather than "eyeing photo-ops to get publicity".
Still unsafe: The national outcry over the gang-rape in December 2012 does not seem to have deterred Delhi's predators
'Irresponsible'
Calling the chief minister's statement "irresponsible", Irani said it was her duty as an administration to protect the residents.
Referring to a television interview of Dikshit in December 2012, in which the CM broke down while speaking on the Delhi gang-rape case, Irani said: "Shedding tears in public and fulfiling your responsibilities are two different things."
CPM leader Brinda Karat said the chief minister is speaking the truth, but that does not mean she is absolved of all her responsibilities.
"What is her responsibility as chief minister?" asked Karat, adding: "Women's security issues have become a political football between central and the state governments. The chief minister blames the Delhi Police and the central government defends the police. It's a shame."
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