PUDUCHERRY: Following a public outcry over her ‘ex-tribe’ remark on Twitter, Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi on Saturday expressed regret if it hurt anybody.
Bedi tweeted on August 1, “Ex-Criminal Tribes are known to be very cruel. They are hardcore professionals in committing crimes. Rarely caught and/or convicted.”
The 140 characters of a tweet do not often permit one to voice one’s view in its full intent, because of which concerns have been raised by some quarters, she said. Bedi explained that while she was an IPS officer, controlling night crimes was a nightmare and she recalled how the entire district police and villagers formed night patrols and used to spend sleepless nights protecting residents. While preventing crimes, the police also reformed several criminals involved in traditional crimes such as thefts and bootlegging. “It was part of our crime prevention plan through rehabilitation”, she said.
Bedi further said that the genesis of her NGO, Navjyoti India Foundation, began with their reform and rehabilitation as objectives. “We trained them to earn an honest livelihood. Today their children are teachers, professionals and running their own business. We are their mentors. We are proud of their achievement. They are a source of joy for us. We make no differentiation. We are all one community,” she said. Clarifying further she said that she was referring to those not rehabilitated, who still indulge in crimes. Once again this was confirmed by the statements of the UP police officers that the same ex-criminal tribe members were involved in a crime, said Bedi.