Keeping a watch on Police and its functioning: Delhi's Home Minister Jitender Kumar Tomar

NEW DELHI: The capital's new home minister, Jitender Kumar Tomar, is keeping a watch on Delhi Police and its functioning. He says he is determined to make the policing system accountable to the common man.

"I agree law and order is a subject under the purview of the Centre but we can play the role of watchdog and monitor their performance. We can ensure that police do their job by keeping a check and pointing out any negligence on their part," Tomar said, adding that the AAP government will be seen to build a relationship of cooperation with the BJP-led Centre.

Tomar, who has been reviewing the working of departments under him, said women's security is a priority area and he has met the director general of home guards in this connection. "With this assessment in hand we will be in a position to decide how we can pave the way for deploying them on buses, and if we can do additional hiring for the purpose," he added.

The minister also holds charge of law and promised speedy justice by setting up more fast-track courts.

Besides home and law, Tomar has the departments of tourism and art and culture under him.

As part of his plans to give Delhi a facelift, he is working on a "tourism hub" for the city. "I wish to create a tourism hub over about 100 acres. I am spending a lot of time these days studying various models across the world for it."

Asked how he will balance the law portfolio that deals with hard issues and his other departments, the minister said, "It is important to add humour after a lot of serious talk to make the whole conversation pleasant and memorable. This is why I have portfolios which are a mix of hard and soft issues".