Jaipur: The Rajasthan assembly Monday witnessed repeated disruptions as Congress legislators, led by Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully, pressed for a debate on the state’s “deteriorating law and order situation.“The protests began before the House proceedings when Congress MLAs staged a demonstration in the assembly complex, carrying placards and posters highlighting recent crime incidents. Inside the House, they entered with banners with slogans and newspaper clippings on law and order, which were later removed after Speaker Vasudev Devnani issued a warning. During Zero Hour, Congress members raised slogans accusing the BJP govt of failing to maintain law and order. Jully pointed out that not a single debate on the issue was held in the past year. “This is the first time in recent history that an entire year has passed without any discussion on law and order,” he said. As the protests escalated, several MLAs stormed into the Well of the House, forcing multiple adjournments. Reacting to chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma’s claim that the crime rate declined by 4.9% in the last 18 months compared to the previous Congress govt’s tenure, Jully accused the govt of suppressing data. “During the Congress govt, FIR registration was made mandatory so that every victim could get justice. Now, police are being directed to register fewer cases to hide failures,” he charged. He further alleged that absconders and proclaimed offenders rose by 10–12 percent this year. Referring to a case in Jaipur’s Transport Nagar, he said, “A complainant ignored at the police station set himself on fire and later died. This shows how insensitive the system has become.” Jully also accused BJP ministers and MLAs of giving “extortion targets” to police officers. “Instead of preventing crimes, police are busy meeting recovery targets. ministers even tell policemen not to stop illegal gravel trucks, and the next day people die after being crushed by such trucks,” he said. Expressing concern over threats to the chief minister, he added, “It is very unfortunate that the CM already received death threats four times. When the CM and Deputy CM are not safe, how can ordinary people feel secure?” Highlighting Jaipur’s crime graph, he said that up to September this year, 21,971 criminal cases were registered in the Commissionerate—an average of 2,441 cases per month, excluding cybercrime. “Jaipur has become a hub for chain snatchers and thieves. The govt has reduced the capital to a playground for criminals,” Jully said.
