THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala on Wednesday received a pat on the back from two of his political opponents for ‘Operation Kubera’, the police drive against illegal moneylenders.
Opposition Deputy Leader Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and CPI leader Binoy Viswom complimented the Minister at a seminar on the drive organised by the Institute of Social Research and Action (ISRA) here.
Kodiyeri, who urged the Minister to go ahead with the operation, however, cautioned him of a possible sabotage by some corrupt elements in the force.
Recalling his stint as Home Minister, Kodiyeri said Chennithala should keep corrupt politicians and bureaucrats at bay to achieve the desired results.
“Operation Kubera is the treatment for a symptom. Steps should also be initiated against black money, the root cause of such evils,” he said.
Binoy Viswom said Chennithala will be remembered as an able politician in future if he succeeds in missions like ‘Operation Kubera’. The society’s shift from simple living to luxurious lifestyle also contributes to the growth of blade mafia, he said.
Power Minister Aryadan Mohammed, who presided over the function, opined that the people are still unaware of the ills of blade mafia. “Kerala has a high rate of police complaints, thanks to public awareness. Such an awareness should be cultivated against loan sharks,” he said.