Chief minister Sheila Dikshit, who aggressively raised the issue of poor policing after the December 16 gangrape of a 23-year-old paramedic student, was seen on the backfoot on Monday. She met Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde following the alleged suicide of Ram Singh, the key accused in the case, at Tihar jail which falls under the prisons department of the Delhi government. However, when her response was sought over the alleged suicide, Ms Dikshit refused to comment citing the magisterial enquiry. The Tihar and Rohini jails are under the administrative control of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi headed by lieutenant-governor Tejendra Khanna. The chief minister is also the minister incharge of prisons.
“We did not discuss anything on this matter (suicide of Ram Singh). I cannot comment on the issue as a magisterial enquiry has been ordered. Let the enquiry get over and everything will become clear,” she said. When asked on whom does the accountability for the incident rest, she refused to comment.
Meanwhile, the Delhi BJP slammed Ms Dikshit over the suicide.
Leader of the Opposition in Delhi Assembly Prof. Vijay Kumar Malhotra told this newspaper that Ms Dikshit is dodging her responsibilities.
“When the gangrape occurred, she said that the police is not under her command and now when the prime accused has been found dead she is making lame excuses to save her government. Every prison in the city is under the jurisdiction of the Delhi government. It is a very alarming situation as the Tihar Jail, where many terrorists and hardcore criminals are lodged, is not safe. We demand a separate judicial inquiry into the entire incident and the security,” Prof. Malhotra said.
The chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women, Barkha Singh said, “It is a very shocking incident. There should be a proper detailed probe into the death.”