Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala today refuted Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan's reported allegation that law and order in the state had collapsed.
The CPI-M leader was making "baseless" statements based on certain isolated incidents of crime which happened in Thiruvananthapuram district recently, Chennithala told reporters here.
"Incidents of murder have come down in the state now when compared to the figures in the last few years," he said.
Quoting Central Crime Bureau records, Chennithala said Kerala stands first in maintaining law and order and also in conviction rates.
After 'Operation Suraksha' was launched in Feberuary 2015 against anti-social elements, 1.38 lakh offenders have been arrested so far, he said.
On Achuthanandan's reported remark that State DGP T P Senkumar was 'playing' in Facebook instead of looking after law and order, Chennithala said "this is an era of social media. I cannot ask the DGP not to use social media."
"I am of the opinion that Senkumar is an efficient police officer in the state," Chennithala added.
Asked about bribery charges levelled against him by hotelier Biju Ramesh, he said "an effort is on to topple this government by tarnishing the image of UDF leaders."
"I want to tell those who are behind this move that their effort will not succeed," he said, adding, "a section of media is also trying to pull dowm this government."
Renewing his charges, the hotelier had alleged that Rs two crore had been paid to Chennithala when he was KPCC President.
Chennithala said he would initiate legal steps against Biju Ramesh for levelling "baseless charges.
