India, Jan. 11 -- Stressing that a state can develop only if it has a strong law and order, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Saturday that under the Bhajanlal Sharma government in Rajasthan, the crime rate has declined, policing has been strengthened, and paper leaks have been stopped.

Addressing a constable appointment ceremony at the Rajasthan Police Academy here, Shah also said that transparent recruitment in public services is essential for good governance. The minister said that no state can move forward if recruitment is marred by corruption.

"The Bhajanlal government has ended the paper leak culture started during the Congress regime and freed Rajasthan from it," he said. Shah noted that the overall crime rate in the state d...