A day after municipal affairs minister Firhad Hakim blamed the media highlighting rape cases, state panchayat minister Subrata Mukherjee echoed him only on Sunday claiming that the law and order situation in the state has improved “far” than that of the Communist regime.
Describing the recent incidents as “Pocha Prochar (dirty campaign)” by the media he said that the crimes were larger in number than now and they went unrecorded earlier.
“The present law and order situation in the state is far better compared to any other state. Such incidents (rape) were several earlier but they were not recorded. I however do not support this.”
He also made it clear that the law would take its own course in dealing crime and “no one would interfere into it. The chief minister is firm about it.” The minister’s comments soon earned him sharp criticism from the CPI(M), Congress and the BJP.
Leader of the Opposition Surjya Kanta Mishra said, “The minister had to say so to save his job. Unless how could he retain his job in the government? There is a saying: His master’s voice.” Echoing him Congress MP from Berhampore Adhir Chowdhury lashed out at the Mamata government for the recent spurt in violence against women in the state.