New Delhi: Former police officer Kiran Bedi is being touted as Delhi’s next chief minister. By recently bringing Bedi into its fold, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has livened up the election scenario in Delhi, which is gearing up to go to polls on February 7.
Termed a live wire, she was always endeared herself to the public with her fearless pattern of work. But she sought voluntary retirement in 2007 after Y.S. Dadwal was appointed Delhi police chief, superseding her. She was then director general of Police Research and Development.
Bedi came into the limelight once again on joining the India Against Corruption movement led by Anna Hazare in 2011, sharing the platform with Arvind Kejriwal. Thereafter, she joined Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), but left after differences arose between them.
While her induction into the BJP brings a woman’s face to the fore to attract women voters, many are calling her an opportunist, who left the AAP because her ‘dictatorial attitude’ clashed with Kejriwal’s style.
Bedi had made inroads into the hearts of millions of Delhiites when as the tough police officer she got then prime minister Indira Gandhi’s car towed for a parking violation in 1982. It was a time when her stern approach as Delhi’s deputy commissioner police (traffic) earned her the name ‘Crane’ Bedi.
She had publicly backed a sub-inspector who towed away Gandhi’s car wrongfully parked at Connaught Place. The driver of the car was handed over a traffic fine and Bedi earned respect both from the police and the public for being a brave woman who not afraid to take on the powers that be. As a consequence, she was shunted out and given a punishment posting in Goa. But true to her style, in 1984, she towed away several VIP cars parked right up to the old Cathedral in Goa.
She speaks to Gulf News in an exclusive interview:
GULF NEWS: Can I say I’m talking to the future chief minister of Delhi?
KIRAN BEDI: It is for the top leadership of the BJP to decide who will be the chief ministerial candidate. I will go by the campaign planning and the strategy of the party in the forthcoming elections.
With what plus points are you entering active politics? Will we be seeing more cranes on Delhi roads to ease the traffic problems?
I have administrative experience of 40 years and will put it all to good use and ensure that we make a stable and corruption-free government for the people. My job is to give results. I know how to work and how to get work done. I will try to ease, not just traffic issues, but other problems as well.
When the BJP came to power at the Centre, it was expected that women’s security would be one of its priorities, but there’s no visible change. Where does the issue stand on your priority list?
Women’s security will be my top priority. I have gone through the surveys, wherein the issue has emerged as one of the most important and will work towards it.
How do you wish to tackle it?
I have a very clear-cut plan on this. I have been writing and explaining a 6P formula. The first P is people including parents, principals, teachers and the community leaders, who can all be termed as preachers. The second P is the politician, who gives you laws, rules, regulations and resources. As we saw the law against sexual violence came by an ordinance so late after the December 16 rape case. The politician has a crucial role to play in strengthening laws. The third P is the police. One can recall that during my tenure in Delhi Police, we had built a good system of civil defence by deploying an army of civil defence. I plan to have an alignment between government and civil society. This community policing will take care of prevention and investigation. The fourth P is prosecution to see fast trial of cases. The fifth P is for prison and reform of prisoners, as in the past several cases, such as the Shakti Mill in Mumbai and Uber case in Delhi, the rapists were those who were released from prisons and were serial offenders. The last P is for the press. This is again very important as to how the media communicates.
What other issues top your list?
Cleanliness of the city is issue number two on my agenda. The other issues include corruption, inflation and lack of essential civic amenities — water and electricity.
Will you press for the Delhi Police to be brought under the ambit of the Delhi government?
I alone cannot take such decisions. This will be for the government at the Centre to decide. But I can say that policing in the capital is getting better.
You were always keen on joining the BJP, but instead flowed with the AAP after the Anna Hazare movement. Can it be termed homecoming?
There is no point delving into the past. In fact, I have to correct the past and move towards the future in a positive manner. The leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his vision for the country inspired me. I feel honoured to be working with him towards development of the nation.
Profile
• Kiran Bedi was born on June 9, 1949 in Amritsar, Punjab.
• She studied at Sacred Heart Convent School, Amritsar.
• She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English, Master’s in Political Science, LLB and a Doctorate from IIT, Delhi.
• Worked as a lecturer in Political Science at Khalsa College for Women, Amritsar.
• She is a former Asian tennis champion.
• Became the first woman to join Indian Police Service in 1972.
• Began her career as subdivisional police officer in Chanakyapuri, New Delhi.
• Mired in controversies, in 1988, the Justice Wadhwa Commission criticised her for her role in a batoncharge on lawyers protesting outside her office.
• Had a number of traffic police postings and as deputy director general (narcotics) in Narcotics Control Bureau and deputy inspector general, Mizoram.
• Took over as inspector general of prisons, Tihar, considered one of India’s most notorious and overburdened prisons, and implemented various reforms — 1993.
• Received the Ramon Magsaysay Award for government service — 1994.
• Served the United Nations as a civilian police adviser in Department of Peacekeeping Operations.
