During the Monsoon session of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath criticized the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party, labeling it a’serious threat’ to women’s safety and citing a history of party members’ involvement in crimes against women. He referenced a controversial 2014 statement by SP founder Mulayam Singh Yadav and highlighted the BJP government’s efforts to improve women’s safety since 2017, including the formation of the Anti-Romeo Squad, increased conviction rates, and significant recruitment of women police officers.
5 Major Key Points:
- Criticism of Samajwadi Party:Yogi Adityanath condemned the Samajwadi Party for being a threat to women’s safety and pointed to past statements and actions that he claims reflect the party’s lenient stance on crimes against women.
- BJP’s Safety Initiatives:Adityanath highlighted the creation of the Anti-Romeo Squad as one of the first measures taken by his government to curb harassment and crimes against women upon coming to power in 2017.
- Statistical Improvements: The Chief Minister presented statistics showing a significant decrease in crimes such as dowry deaths and rapes from 2016 to 2023-24, attributing these improvements to the government’s stringent actions.
- Enhanced Prosecution and Convictions: He noted the bolstering of the prosecution wing and the increase in conviction rates for sexual harassment cases, including notable numbers of life sentences and death penalties under the POCSO Act.
- Increased Women Representation in Police Force: Adityanath reported the recruitment of over 20,000 women police constables since 2017, alongside the integration of women’s helplines with emergency services and the establishment of women’s help desks in numerous police stations across the state.
