Obviously taking a cue from the success story scripted by Nitish Kumar in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati has visibly shifted her focus to the hard issue of governance, which was so far left to her select coterie of bureaucrats. This was clearly reflected in a review of the state’s law and order situation by her on Saturday.
Unlike in the past, when such meetings were mere rituals where she made only a token appearance, while leaving the actual task to Cabinet Secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh and chief secretary Atul Kumar Gupta, she chose to sit through the day-long meeting.
She issued a warning to all divisional commissioners, district magistrates, range deputy inspector generals of police and district superintendents of police to pull up their socks or face the music. Issuing an ultimatum to the officials, she said: “Enough is enough. I am giving you two months to improve the law and order in your respective areas. I propose to start my surprise inspections with effect from February 1. Those who fail to deliver should remain prepared to face punitive action.” Ms Mayawati sought to make it loud and clear that she would not spare anyone for their lapses. “Those who perform would be duly rewarded, while those who do not would have to face the music,” she declared.
Pointing out that law and order was on the top of her priorities, she told officials to observe “zero tolerance” to crime and criminals. “Stern action against criminals alone can restore the sense of security among the people,” she said. Laying much stress on the need to ensure communal harmony, she urged the officials to maintain “strict vigil against incitement of communal trouble”. She recommended deterrent action against mischief mongers behind any type of communal trouble in the state. She asked district magistrates as well as divisional commissioners to start holding weekly review meetings. —IANS