Kejriwal Takes on BJP Over Issues of Women's Rights, Security

Kejriwal Takes on BJP Over Issues of Women's Rights, Security

NEW DELHI:  Accusing BJP of "failing" to prevent crimes against women, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal today said the saffron party's model for women's security was to "lock them up" inside four walls while his party believed in creating safer environment through "strong deterrence".

The former Delhi chief minister also said 10-15 lakh CCTVs would be installed across the city to ramp up security.

"Delhi will have to decide between two models. The BJP model of women safety is of locking them up inside four walls and not to let them wear jeans or use mobile phones. The AAP model is one of freedom," he told reporters.

Kejriwal further said, "Our model is to allow them freedom and create an environment of safety through strong deterrence by installing CCTV cameras in whole of Delhi."

Hitting out at BJP, the Aam Aadmi Party leader said that the saffron party seeks to protect women by "not allowing them education or jobs."

"One of their leaders said that women should bear four to five children...rape accused minister is campaigning in Delhi. This is their model of women security.... We want men and women to have equal rights," he said.

He also took a dig at the Centre's decision to remove CCTV cameras installed during US President Barack Obama's visit.

"BJP government installed 15,000 CCTV cameras for the visit of US President Barack Obama but nothing for our women. At least they could have not removed those cameras," he said.       Kejriwal slammed the BJP for "failing" to prevent crimes against women claiming that Delhi has seen a 30 per cent rise in rape incidents in the last nine months after President's Rule was imposed.

"There have been 2,069 rapes over the last nine months after we quit, which amounts to a 30 per cent increase in it. Moreover the city has witnessed 4,179 incidents of eve-teasing, a 25 per cent rise in such cases," he said.

Kejriwal said he was not ready to "buy the argument" that the rise in number of cases is due to more women coming out to report such incidents.

In its manifesto, released yesterday, the AAP has promised to install 10-15 lakh CCTV cameras all over the city along with ensuring a security guard in every bus.

Responding to questions on possible misuse of CCTV footages, Kejriwal said that his government will  put in place "checks and balances" to prevent any misuse.

"There will be checks and balances. We will take measures to prevent any sort of misuse. Just because there are few apprehensions, we cannot throw the baby out with the bath water, because it's a good concept" he said.

The AAP chief said he had come up with the idea of installing CCTVs after receiving feedback from the women of his constituency.

During the press conference, well-known TV personalities Smita Bansal and Ayub Khan joined AAP and will also campaign for the party in the last lap of campaigning.

"I had as such no attachment towards politics in fact I was tired of the old style of politics. But what I saw in the 49 days of AAP government was epic," Khan said.

Few members of the Delhi BJP's transport cell also joined the party.

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