Accepting the fact that the protests after the gangrape case were a “wake up” call, Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit has taken on the Delhi Police for lack of faith the people have in them because of their “insensitive” approach.

For the first time, Sheila said that PM Manmohan Singh’s message to the nation should have come much earlier.

Delhi Chief Minister acknowledged that people tend to stay away from helping others who are in distress because they are of the view that they will be “harassed” by the police. She asked the force to modify their functioning style and attitude.

“It worries me. Yes. It worries me that police force is not as sensitive or responsive as it ought to be or well behaved as it ought to be… The systems need to be changed and judicial system needs to be changed and bureaucratic system needs to be changed but it has to be thought out. But please remember it is not going to happen tomorrow,” Dikshit said.

“Fault lies with police. I don’t know. I have not minced my words (in saying) where the failure of this has come (from). In fact, I have not overtly but covertly criticised this.

“It is not my job to appoint a police commissioner or take him away. It is the job of the home ministry and I am sure they will do something,” she said.