Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia was given a hero’s welcome this evening as he arrived in St George’s Square Valletta to address a Budget consultation meeting.

The minister was given a rapturous applause, amid chants of "Manuel, Manuel".

The Opposition has been calling on the Prime Minister to sack Dr Mallia following a shooting incident involving his driver.

Dr Mallia told those present that the warm welcome they gave him made him emotional and their support encouraged him.

Because of a certain incident, he said with reference to the shooting, the Opposition tried to shift attention away from the Budget.

The minister reiterated what he said in Parliament on Monday with reference to criticism that the country was returning to the 1980s.

In those years, he said, he battled abuse and public violence and now as minister responsible for national security, he would not accept a return to that time.

He spoke on the prisons saying he found it in a  shambles and the present government kicked off its rehabilitation.

The government also gave dignity to workers, including Civil Protection officers, who previously had to make do with second hand clothes and old vehicles.

On the Rinella film facilities, he said these were left in a shameful state and the government was considering issuing a public partnership for their development.

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