'Immigrants to blame for Capital's crimes'

Home Minister P Chidambaram retracted this controversial statement on Monday, but not before facing criticism from Left, Right and even Centre

It seems the Congress' senior leadership is afflicted with a foot-in-mouth epidemic. Even as Digvijay Singh's conspiracy theory on 26/11 martyr Hemant Karkare's death continues to fuel TV debates, another important leader has gone ahead and made an observation on the security situation in Delhi that has sent his partymen scurrying for cover in a barrage of disparagement from all quarters. And this time the guilty party is none other than the otherwise suave Home Minister P Chidambaram.


In the eye of a storm: Home Minister P Chidambaram was answering
questions related to rising crimes in Delhi. file pic

Chidambaram had sought to blame migrants for crimes like rape that have become a daily affair in Delhi. "Nevertheless, crime takes place because Delhi attracts a large number of migrants. There are a large number of unauthorised colonies, and these migrants who settle in unauthorised colonies, carry a kind of behaviour that is unacceptable in any modern city. So crimes do take place," said Chidambaram, who had gone to inaugurate the Convention Centre at New Delhi City Centre Complex.

However, Chidambaram's remarks were criticised by not only leaders of BJP, JD (U), RJD, SP, BSP and Shiv Sena but also by members of his own party. Soon after, the Home Minister issued a clarification saying he did not refer to any state or region or language or race or religion and was conscious that everyone who came to work in Delhi was, in a sense, a migrant, including himself.

Chidambaram said he was dismayed that some people had pounced upon the word 'migrant' and raised a controversy. "The country faces many real issues and I have no desire to say or do anything that will distract from the real issues. I have nothing against migration or migrants, being a migrant myself. I was pointing to 'behaviour that is unacceptable'.

Nevertheless, I think the best way to put an end to any controversy would be to withdraw the whole of my answer to the question, and I do so. I would request everyone, including Delhi police, to focus on the real issues of crime, crime prevention and crime detection," he said in his clarification.

BJP leader Kirti Azad termed Chidambaram's statement as "very irresponsible" and said his statement portrayed all migrants as criminals. "Chidambaram is not aware of the ground reality and is trying to hide his own failure," Azad told MiD DAY. Congress MP Mahabal Mishra said that Chidambaram had no understanding of the demography of the national capital.

RJD chief Lalu Prasad termed Chidambaram's statement as "very unfortunate" and said it was an attempt to hide his own failure by putting the blame on migrants. "I disapprove of the statement of Home Minister Chidambaram. In future, he should talk about his own failure and should not put blame on others," he said.
Sharply reacting to Chidambaram's statement, BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said: "This is an irresponsible statement.

Congress leaders are taking out their frustrations over the party's defeat in Bihar. Delhi Police works under the nose of the Home Minister. He should not make such statements to cover his failures."
SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and his MP son Akhilesh Yadav said Congress ministers always try to cover up their failures or blame it on others. "As for law and order, responsibility is fully of the police and other authorities. They are getting their salary for this. But to put it on others is running away from responsibility," Akhilesh said.

BSP supremo Mayawati asked Chidambaram to apologise to people of the country. "People of UP and Bihar will not forgive Chidambaram for his comment," the UP Chief Minister said.