Won’t allow saffronisation of police dept: DK Shivakumar’s stern warning to officials
Days after the Congress government came to power in Karnataka, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Tuesday warned the police officials over law and order situation in the state.
At a high-level meeting with top police officers, DK Shivakumar pointed to a few incidents under the previous BJP regime in Karnataka and said the new Congress government will not allow “saffronisation” of the police department, according to sources.
“Are you going to saffronize the police department? This is not allowed in our government. I know how you insulted the department by wearing saffron clothes in Mangalore, Bijapur, Bagalkot. If you have respect for the country, you should work with the national flag,” DK Shivakumar said.
“We will not allow the saffronisation of the police department in our government,” the Congress leader reiterated.
Talking about the involvement of an Additional Director General of Police rank official in the Police Sub-Inspector (PSI) recruitment scam, DK Shivakumat said it shows how “bad the department is”.
Shivakumar also accused the police of “harassing” Congress leader Priyank Kharge, who brought the scam to light.
“Karnataka Police Department had a good reputation in the entire country. You have ruined that honour and dignity. Everywhere you look its corruption,” DK Shivakumar said.
Accusing the police of filing false cases against Congress leaders and workers, Siddaramaiah and him during the BJP rule, DK Shivakumar said, ” I know how you behaved with me and Siddaramaiah when we did the PayCM campaign in the past. Cases have been filed against us. Thousands of false cases have been filed against our workers. But no case was filed against the opposite party only.”
He warned the police officers that they have to change their attitude.
“People expect a big change from this government. It should start with the police department itself. The message of change from this government should go to the people. Your past behaviour will not happen in our government,” DK Shivakumar said. “You have to change. Your attitude must change.”
In the same meeting, CM Siddaramaiah instructed police to be vigilant about moral policing. Irrespective of Hindu or Muslim, no moral policing should be tolerated, Siddaramaiah was quoted as saying by sources.
