Kumari Selja blames Haryana govt for rise of ‘Punjab-like gangster culture’

CHANDIGARH: Congress general secretary and former Union minister Kumari Selja on Monday blamed Haryana's BJP-led govt for the emergence of a "Punjab-like gangster culture" that emboldens criminals to flaunt their crimes on social media while challenging law enforcement directly.

In a statement issued here, Selja, also the MP for Sirsa, highlighted alarming crime statistics for 2024, accusing the state govt of failing to maintain law and order despite claims of control. She said:

"The BJP govt faces mounting public criticism over rising crime, with women's safety, in particular, being neglected." Pointing to the 1,431 reports of rape, 112 of attempted rape, and more than 1,400 of sexual harassment in 2024, she alleged that many incidents went unregistered, while Haryana had also recorded 950 murders, 15,577 vehicle thefts, and 416 cases of extortion during the year.

About extortion, she claimed that his crime had reached levels were people were now threatened with gunfire if they refused to pay, "forcing many to give in to save their lives".