Releasing statistics for the last seven years, he said: "During the Congress rule, the metropolis had witnessed 488 murders in 1992, 687 in 1993 and 354 in 1994. However, after we assumed power there were only 357 murders in 1995, 327 in 1996 and 288 in 1997. In the current year so far 138 cases of murders have been registered in different parts of the city."

Continuing the comparisons with the Congress, he said attempt-to-murder cases, dacoities and robberies too had witnessed a sharp decline after the alliance government came to power. He said while the cases of attempt to murder had come down from 261 in 1991 to 182 in 1997, dacoities and robberies too had shown a sharp decline from 115 and 1,066 respectively in 1991to and 86 and 495 in 1997.

Even for the escape of dreaded gangster Firoz Konkani from JJ hospital recently he did not blame the police. The minister said Konkani was taken to hospitals 11 times following court orders. "Frequent shifting of criminals following court orders pose serious risk of such misadventures by criminals," he said.

When asked about the opposition leader, Chhagan Bhujbal's demand for his resignation, he said: "It's a political demand made with an eye on elections."