Jaipur: Stressing that a state can develop only if it has a strong law and order, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Saturday that under the Bhajanlal Sharma government in Rajasthan, the crime rate has declined, policing has been strengthened, and paper leaks have been stopped.
Addressing a constable appointment ceremony at the Rajasthan Police Academy here, Shah also said that transparent recruitment in public services is essential for good governance.
The minister said that no state can move forward if recruitment is marred by corruption.
“The Bhajanlal government has ended the paper leak culture started during the Congress regime and freed Rajasthan from it,” he said.
Shah noted that the overall crime rate in the state declined by nearly 14 per cent in the last two years.
“A state can develop only when law and order is good. The Bhajanlal government has ended paper leaks, strengthened law and order and, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, made Rajasthan one of the leading destinations for investment in the country.”
“I want to tell the people of Rajasthan that these 9,000 youths have been given jobs without spending money, without recommendations and purely on merit by the BJP government. This recruitment has transparency, elimination of corruption and respect for merit,” Shah said.
He said, “No state can progress unless it promotes merit. No state can move ahead unless recruitment to public services is done transparently and without corruption.”
The Home Minister said the BJP government had brought Rajasthan out of the paper leak crisis. “Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma has put an end to the paper leak chain started by the Congress government. This entire recruitment process has been completed transparently, technologically and in a fair manner,” he said.
In the run-up to the 2023 Assembly polls, the BJP had alleged 16 instances of paper leak under the previous Congress government. It had become one of the major issues during the state election in which the BJP defeated the Congress.
Calling Rajasthan Police among the most capable forces in the country, Shah on Saturday said, “In the two years after the Bhajanlal government came to power, total crime has fallen by around 14 per cent. Heinous crimes have reduced by 19 per cent. Murder cases are down by 25 per cent, attempt to murder by 19 per cent, and crimes against women by 10 per cent.”
He said crimes against SC/ST communities have declined by 28 per cent, dacoity cases by 47 per cent and robbery cases by 51 per cent.
“This shows what difference a committed government can make, a government that prioritises law and order and transparent governance,” Shah said.
Shah said the Modi government had repealed British-era laws that were 150 years old and implemented the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. “The earlier laws were meant to protect the British government and fill its treasury. The new laws will give citizens an entirely new experience,” he said.
He said technology has been given a central place in the new laws and all five pillars of the criminal justice system — police, prosecution, prisons, forensic science laboratories, and courts — have been digitally integrated.
“Several changes have been made to safeguard citizens’ rights. Separate chapters have been introduced for women and children, marking a new era in their protection,” Shah said.
The Home Minister said that once the new laws are fully implemented, justice up to the Supreme Court will be delivered within three years of registration of an FIR.
Referring to the implementation of the three new criminal justice laws, Shah said the conviction rate of the Rajasthan Police has increased from 41 per cent to 60 per cent. He expressed confidence that it would rise further to 85 per cent in the coming years.
“Today investors from across the country are competing to come to Rajasthan. This clearly shows that the future of Rajasthan is very bright,” he added.
Shah also distributed appointment letters to some of the newly recruited constables. Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, Deputy Chief Minister Prem Chand Bairwa, Minister of State for Home Jawahar Singh Bedham, Chief Secretary V. Srinivas and Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar Sharma were among those present at the event.
