Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala on Wednesday alleged that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was trying to conceal the lapses of the police by mocking the Opposition and the media.
Addressing a press conference here, the UDF leader said Mr. Vijayan was solely responsible for the deteriorating law-and-order situation in the State. He would continue to perform his duty as Leader of the Opposition bringing out the lapses on the part of the government. It was his duty to inform the public about such instances. But the Chief Minister should show the gumption to admit to lapses, if they occurred, he said.
The murder of a youth in Kottayam was not the first one to occur and murders had been taking place one after another. It was not enough to suspend policemen in connection with the case. Policemen had been suspended in 10 cases in recent times. There was no need for more evidence that something was seriously wrong with the police administration. “I know my job as Leader of the Opposition. I have also been Home Minister for two years and the Opposition LDF could not rake a single issue. Does anyone know who is the Home Secretary of the State? The ADGPdditional Director General of Police, South Zone, did not bother to visit Varapuzha or Kottayam. There is no point in installing inept police officers in key positions and blaming others for it,” he said.
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He also referred to the reactions of Finance Minister Thomas Isaac, Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran and former Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan to the law-and-order situation.
Fuel price
Mr. Chennithala also come out against the State Cabinet’s decision to reduce the tax on petrol and diesel by Re.1 each. Such nominal sops would not help the common man. The previous UDF government had given up tax revenue on four occasions when it was in power, he said.
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