New Delhi: Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has expressed concerns over the law and order situation of India’s capital city, describing it as the “crime and extortion capital of the world.”
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief on Saturday wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, seeking time from him for a discussion on the matter.
Mentioning the multiple bomb threat incidents in recent times, as well as crimes against women in the city, Kejriwal stated that he is worried about the safety of Delhi citizens.
“Delhi holds the unfortunate distinction of ranking first among 19 metro cities in India for crimes against women. It also leads in murder cases, while extortion gangs operate freely across the city,” Kejriwal wrote.
Listing the increasing number of bomb threats received by Delhi schools, Kejriwal brought to Shah’s notice that parents and children live under the shadow of threats.
“Can you imagine the trauma a child endures, or the anxiety their parents face, when a school is evacuated due to a bomb threat, and children are sent home in fear? Today, every parent and child in Delhi lives under the shadow of such threats, gripped by the fear of bombs,” Kejriwal stated.
The former chief minister claimed that Delhi has earned titles like ‘rape capital’ and ‘crime capital’ under Shah’s administration, “reflecting the glaring failures in maintaining law and order.”
दिल्ली में बिगड़ती कानून-व्यवस्था के मुद्दे पर गृहमंत्री श्री अमित शाह जी को मेरा पत्र। pic.twitter.com/ZktTbViZq3
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) December 14, 2024
It’s under the Shah-headed Home Ministry that Delhi Police functions.
The timing of the letter is significant, with Assembly elections in Delhi due by February 2025. The ruling AAP and its principal rivals BJP have already launched campaigns, though the Election Commission of India is yet to announce polling date.