Centre, AAP keen to address women safety in Delhi: DCW chief Swati Maliwal

Delhi Commission for Women chief Swati Maliwal on Tuesday said both the Centre as well as the Aam Aadmi Party government are "keen" on addressing the problem of women's safety in Delhi. "We are trying that both the Centre as well as the Delhi government work together. Because the Centre controls the Delhi Police and there are many other things which come under the Delhi government. It's not the case that I don't see the Centre is not keen on this issue. I see that the Centre is keen and the state government is also very keen to resolve the issue. I am working to see that everyone works together," she said.

Interestingly, Maliwal's remark is in variance with the AAP government's stand that the Centre is not serious in addressing the problem of security of women in the national capital. She was addressing a students' function organised by Bharat Ahshara Social Organisation (BASO), an NGO working to build 'mohalla libraries'. 

Maliwal said in 2014 around 11,000 cases were registered by Delhi Police pertaining to crime against women, but only nine persons were convicted. "There is no fear among people in Delhi that they will be punished if they commit any crime. The DCW is working on this so that an action is taken and it is taken at the earliest. We are working (so) that any girl or woman can walk fearlessly on road even at midnight," she added.

The AAP has been at loggerheads with the Delhi Police and has often blamed the Centre for crime against women. In the past, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has also demanded handing over the control of Delhi Police to the state government after instances of crime against women.