Mah Govt to give priority to security in next budget: Patil

Sangli, Maharashtra, Oct 1 (UNI) Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil today said the government will give priority to security on the lines of development activities in the upcoming state budget.

Mr Patil, who also holds the Home portfolio, said this after attending a function organised here to present an ISO certificate to the Sangli district police.

He said his government would accord priority to security and defence in the state budget in order to make the police more competent by providing them with modern weapons and other necessary paraphernalia to tackle successfully the growing menace of terrorism and other criminal activities in the state.

He lauded the state police for successfully carrying out the investigation into the 7/11 Mumbai serial train bomb blasts and said the investigation in the Malegaon blasts case was expected to get over soon.

On the police wage hike issue, he admitted it was pending for long and promised that the government would take necessary steps in that direction.

The Sangli district police are the first in the country to have secured the ISO 9001-2000 certificate. Henceforth, they should continue their work to maintain the honour, he pointed out.

Cooperation Minister Patangrao Kadam presided over the fuction, while Director General of Police P S Pasricha was present among others.

UNI BBK SSS SY PM2117