Thiruvananthapuram: Home minister Ramesh Chennithala has said his priority would be to safeguard the life and property of the people in the state.
At a meet-the-press programme here on Friday, Chennithala said mafias, goonda gangs and quotation gangs would be put down with a heavy hand. “No soft approach towards goondas and quotation teams,’’ he said and added that he would strive to prevent crimes against women and children.
He lamented the low strength of women in the state police force. “We have just about five per cent women in the force while the neighbouring states like Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have more than 25 per cent. Immediate steps would be taken to rectify this,’’ he added.
On the new KPC president, Chennithala said the high command would take a decision soon. Regarding Union minister Mullapally Ramachandran’s demand that the next KPCC chief should be from Malabar, Chennithala said the Congress was a democratic party and all had the right to express their views.
To a question on the Salim Raj land case, Chennithala said the government was in favour of a CBI probe. The demand for a CBI probe into the TPC murder would be considered seriously, he added.
“Vigilance will not be a caged bird, but an effective independent agency to deal with corruption,’’ he said.
On his visit to the NSS headquarters, he said: “I didn’t go to Perunna for any political activity. I visited the place on Mannam Jayanthi to offer tributes.’’ The minster, however, took a leaf out of Kejriwal’s austerity measures. “I don’t plan to shift to the ministerial bungalow. I will continue to reside in my present house in Vazhuthacaud,’’ he said.
