In the most recent data released by the National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB), Kolkata has distinguished itself by registering the lowest number of cognisable offences per lakh population among the 18 metropolitan cities in India. This revelation has sparked a verbal altercation between the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in West Bengal, each offering contrasting perspectives on the significance of the NCRB's findings.
Kolkata has been declared the safest city in India for the third consecutive year, based on the data shared by the state government with the Centre. The city reported a mere 86.5 cases of cognisable offences per lakh people, outshining Pune (Maharashtra) at 280.7 and Hyderabad (Telangana) at 299.2.
TMC MP Mahua Moitra, expressing delight over the NCRB data, hailed the accomplishment and contended that it exposed the BJP's false narratives regarding the Bengal government's management of law and order. She shared her appreciation on X, formerly known as Twitter, stating, "Kolkata, the safest city with the least crime rates for the third consecutive year, says the NCRB crime report 2022. Thank you, @MamataOfficial, for keeping us safe. Maybe if @BJP4India and their trolls could learn to read, they’d shut up now."
Joint Commissioner of Kolkata Police, IPS Syed Waqar Raza, acknowledged the collective efforts of the police force and the citizens in making Kolkata a safe city. He highlighted their commitment to ensuring safety in terms of both crime incidents and traffic accidents.
However, the Bengal BJP raised objections to the credibility of the data, asserting that cases are not adequately registered in the state. The opposition party accused the Trinamool government of either suppressing data or providing inaccurate figures. BJP state spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya remarked, "The NCRB report is prepared based on inputs from respective state governments. The TMC government seldom provides accurate figures and correct data. We have witnessed the violence unleashed across the state after the 2021 assembly polls and this year’s panchayat polls, so the real picture is evident to all."
BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul criticized the Trinamool Congress for what she termed as "double standards." Paul questioned the claim of Kolkata being the safest city in the face of daily reports of murders, highlighting a perceived inconsistency in data reporting.
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