During a visit to Pithapuram, Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan said he was distressed with the deteriorating peace and security in the state, and he pointed to critical increase in sexual assault and other violence against women. “If I were Home Minister, I would change the security situation for people drastically.”.
This day, he called on the incumbent Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha to “own” these pressing matters and to call for “a review of the present performance of the Home Department.” Being the Minister in charge of Panchayati Raj, Environment, and Forests, he went on to stress that right now was the need of the hour to ensure strengthening of the safety and security of the community through more effective strategies.
Speaking for that occasion, Pawan continued to state that the government must immediately make sure that its law and order machinery will be more effective. He threatened to accept the position of Home Minister if the situation persists, warning that conditions would “totally change” and go in his favor, because conditions would improve drastically once he was at the helm of affairs. He sought more clarity on the guidelines and added that criminals should be treated, irrespective of their caste as given in the Indian Penal Code. Pawan sought to remind the authorities, who were supposed to bring peace, not to turn into sleepwalkers or watch things happen and wake them up when things get to escalatory levels.
Addressing the inaction of law enforcement, he criticized Home Minister Anitha for her failure to address the misconduct of YSRCP members, asking pointedly, “What is the Home Minister doing? Why isn’t she taking action? When women are threatened and humiliated, why are there no arrests?” He stressed the necessity of responsible governance and effective law enforcement.
Also, Pawan Kalyan clarified that as of now, though he is functioning as Minister for Panchayati Raj, he can become the Home Minister when needed. He stated, “If I take on this responsibility, I will lead with the same determination as UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.” he said while appealing to the DGP to come out from the trend and tradition followed by the previous government and shoulder responsibility for protection of citizens.
Pawan Kalyan highlighted that governance should be proactive, not just reactive. “I’m not worried about losing my position; my priority is to fight for my people and ensure their safety,” he declared. His statements reflect a strong commitment to tackling critical public safety issues and enhancing the effectiveness of governance in Andhra Pradesh.