‘Non-stop’ crime against women, their safety top priority, says Hooda

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 19

Former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today said the BJP government in the state had completely failed to provide security to women and crime against women had become non-stop.

He said the government’s figures show that Haryana ranked first in the country in crime against women.

“Every day, five cases of rape and 13 cases of kidnapping come to light, 46 women face some crime or the other. In the Social Progress Index (SPI) report too, Haryana has been declared the most unsafe state in the country. Due to the negligence of the BJP government, thousands of women employees including anganwadi, Asha workers, mid-day-meal workers and nursing staff are forced to take to the streets,” he said.

“For the Congress and women, this time the Assembly elections had become not only an election for change of power, but also for the protection of the honour and dignity of women,” he said.

As always, women from all over Haryana sent rakhis for Hooda on the auspicious festival of Rakshabandhan. MLAs Geeta Bhukkal and Shakuntala Khatak celebrated the festival by tying rakhi to Hooda.

On this occasion, Hooda promised women’s safety would be given priority when the Congress formed the government in the state. “Crime and miscreants will be wiped out from the state. To reduce inflation, LPG cylinder will be available for Rs 500 and 300 units of electricity will be free. The backlog in government jobs will be completed and the participation of women in government jobs will be increased,” he said.