PANAJI: The Goa police will review the security provided to Fisheries Minister Vinod Palyekar, who recently said he was under threat from the drug mafia.
Deputy Inspector General of Police Vimal Gupta told The Hindu on Wednesday, “We assess the security needs of various categories of VIPs, and accordingly provide them a particular kind of security. However, if the security concerns seem to have heightened, we review the situation and take appropriate decisions to upgrade security. This review process is on in case of Mr. Palyekar.”
Mr. Palyekar, who made drug and narcotics proliferation in his constituency an election plank in the Assembly polls in February, had said on Tuesday, “People are following me. They seem to know exactly where I am going. I have even given up taking my morning walk on beaches. Now I go for a brisk walk on the terrace in my home.”
He had said that State Chief Secretary Dharmendra Sharma had assured to look into upgrading his security.
‘Loss of confidence’
The Opposition, meanwhile, has said the minister’s admission shows the government has failed to contain anti-social elements. Goa Congress president Shantaram Naik told The Hindu on Wednesday, “The Congress feels that this is a situation where there is loss of confidence in the ability of the Home Minister from within the Cabinet.” He said that Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who holds the Home portfolio, should hand it over to an independent minister.
Threat a perception: CM
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar told reporters on Wednesday, “Threat is his perception. Police has to ensure that there is no threat. There is a special branch, a committee, which analyses this. They will take appropriate action,” Mr. Parrikar said.
He said that while the threat was “general and not specific”, it would be unfair to call Mr. Palyekar’s apprehension a speculation.
