Stirring a hornet’s nest, Union home minister P. Chidambaram on Monday sought put the blame on migrants in the national capital for most crimes in the city, including rape. But he was soon forced to retract as he came under severe criticism from both Congress and Opposition leaders.
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a function here, Mr Chidambaram said: “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 the city’s northwest colonies carry a kind of behaviour... unacceptable in any modern city. So crimes do take place.”
Mr Chidambaram’s remarks attracted immediate criticism from BJP, RJD and SP leaders, who said it was an attempt to cover up “his and the Delhi Police’s failure”. Congress leaders too refused to defend the home minister’s controversial remarks.
This compelled Mr Chidambaram to quickly readjust, and issue a clarification. In doing so, he said: “I did not refer to any state or region or language or race or religion, and was conscious that everyone who comes to work in Delhi is, in a sense, a migrant, including myself.”