Chidambaram retracts 'migrant' remark on rising crime in Delhi

Within a couple of hours after blaming ‘migrants’ for the rising incidents of rape in Delhi, Home Minister P Chidambaram today clarified that his statement was not against any state, language and religion since he was also a migrant to the national capital.

“This morning, I was asked a question about the recent incidents of rape in Delhi and the alleged failure of the Delhi Police. I gave a detailed reply. In the course of my reply, I made a matter-of-fact reference to migration, unauthorised settlements and behaviour that is unacceptable. By using the ‘migrants’, I did not refer to any state or region or language or race or religion. I am acutely conscious that everyone who comes to work in Delhi is, in a sense, a migrant. I am a migrant myself,” the home minister said in a written statement.

On the sidelines of an event on Monday morning, Chidambaram had said crime in Delhi takes place because the city attracts a large number of migrants. “There are a large number of unauthorised colonies. And the migrants who settle in the city’s north-west colonies carry a kind of behaviour which is unacceptable in any modern city. So, crimes do take place,” the home minister earlier told reporters.

While issuing the clarification, Chidambaram said some people were only trying to raise a controversy and he would want to put an end to this by withdrawing his earlier statement.

“I am dismayed that some people have pounced upon the word ‘migrant’ and raised a controversy. The country faces many real issues, and I have no desire to say or do anything that will distract from the real issues. I have nothing against migration or migrants, being a migrant myself. I was pointing to ‘behaviour that is unacceptable’. Nevertheless, I think the best way to put an end to any controversy would be to withdraw the whole of my answer to the question, and I do so,” Chidambaram clarified.

The home minister also asked the Delhi Police to focus on issues of crime, crime prevention and crime detection.