Karnataka ranked first in the country for justice delivery in April this year, but the same department has now come under attack from Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who warned officials that the Congress government will not allow “saffronisation” of the force.
Karnataka was mentioned among 18 other medium and large states with respect to police, judiciary, prisons and providing legal aid in the India Justice Report.
exactly one month later, with the new Congress led government In its stead, DK Shivakumar not only wants to send a message to the ranks of the police force that the Congress government wants to overhaul it from top to bottom to ensure smooth and efficient functioning, but also warns against those who make allegations Laga was part of the “saffronisation” of the police force during the previous BJP regime.
In the first law and order review meeting addressed by the newly appointed Chief Minister Siddaramaiah And Deputy CM Shivakumar reprimanded senior police officers present at the meeting on Tuesday, asking them to “respect the uniform” and not bring the police department into disrepute. He stressed that the priority of the Congress is to clean up and restore the old department. Its integrity and honor.
Saffron Shawls and Sarees
In October 2021, pictures of officers clad in saffron had surfaced on the auspicious festival of Vijayadashami at Vijayapura Rural Police Station (located in North Karnataka) and Kaup Police Station (Dakshina Kannada). This led to a political tussle between the Congress, which was then in opposition, and the BJP led by Bommai. The Congress accused the then chief minister, Bommai, of promoting “jungle raj” (lawlessness) in the department and the state.
At Vijayapura Rural Police Station, all the officers wore the traditional white kurta-pyjama with saffron scarves. In Kaup, which is in coastal Karnataka, the male station personnel wore white. bench (dhoti) and saffron shirt, while women officers wore saffron saris.
“Why did you only change the police uniform? provide ‘trishuls‘ (Trishul) and ask them to indulge in violence. May your dreams of establishing Jungle Raj come true,” tweeted Siddaramaiah when the issue came to the fore. He also tagged two photographs as evidence, showing how police personnel dressed in saffron robes had taken off his khaki uniform for
The then Home Minister Araga Gyanendra defended the police personnel, accusing Siddaramaiah of raising such issues to gain political mileage among minorities. Gyanendra sought clarification as to why Siddaramaiah was so opposed to saffron as a color and whether it was a banned color in the country.
He also criticized Siddaramaiah for not commenting on the white head cap or white kurta that many policemen wear to offer a break from duty. Namaz, “When this is respected, why not this?” Gyanendra asked a question.
‘Police wearing saffron insulted the uniform’
“Karnataka Police Department had a good name in the entire country. But you have maligned the department. It is true that in the examination conducted for the recruitment of PSI, an ADGP level officer was found tampering with the OMR answer sheet. This is a clear sign of the department’s fall from grace,” Shivakumar said while addressing a closed-door meeting with police officers.
Are you ready to saffronize the police department? We will not allow this to happen under our government. ‘ he added sarcastically.
News18 has learned from sources that several senior officials were uncomfortable with the way the meeting proceeded. The new DGP in the state police force is Alok Mohan, and he too was part of the first briefing by the new government.
“It was discouraging, as many of us are senior officers who have served with pride in their uniform. We are committed to a safe Karnataka and will continue to do so,” said a senior official who sought anonymity.
Another official also insisted that a few isolated incidents should not have been the focus of the meeting. “We are known as the best police force in the entire country. For this, our army has sacrificed a lot. We will always respect the law and the Constitution, the official said.
‘No action on threats to Siddaramaiah, Kharge?’
Shivakumar also questioned the integrity and probity of the police as he alleged that officers of the police department allegedly “harassed Congress leaders like Priyank Kharge”, who were informers in the PSI scam.
He asked why the police had not taken action against BJP leader Ashwath Narayan for making a personal attack against Siddaramaiah and said that “Siddaramaiah should be ‘eliminated’ like 18th century Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan”.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who was also at the meeting, addressed the officers and asked them to keep a close watch on issues like “ethical policing”, which had seen a spurt in the last few years. He advised them to break drug mafia operations in the state, curb hooliganism and find effective solutions to ease Bengaluru’s traffic woes.
The CM reiterated that the Congress government has a policy of zero tolerance towards any attempt to disrupt communal harmony even through social media and such attempts should be curbed immediately.
Police morale is falling, says Bommai
Former CM Bommai accused the ruling Congress of demoralizing the police force. “Karnataka Police has a good name in the country, and the police have never indulged in so-called ‘saffronisation’. Both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar have decided to implement their agenda and to achieve this they are demoralizing the police department. Bommai said, Congress has started its appeasement politics from the very first day of assuming power.