Are you trying to 'saffronise' police dept, Shivakumar asks officers

Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Tuesday rapped Karnataka police officials and asked them whether they are trying to 'saffronise' the state police department.

"Are you all set to saffronise the police department? We will not allow it under our government," Shivakumar stated while addressing the meeting of high-level police officers of Karnataka at the Conference Hall in Vidhana Soudha of Bengaluru.

"We know how police officers came to the police station wearing saffron shawls in Mangaluru, Bijapur (Vijayapura), Bagalkot and insulted the department," he said. "You should have come to this meeting wearing a saffron shawl," Shivakumar taunted the police officers.

"If it was to be patriotic, then you should have come to work wearing the national flag. We will not allow saffronisation of the police department," Shivakumar reiterated.

"Imagine the level the police department would stoop to if an ADGP-ranked officer is indulged in fabricating OMR sheets in the PSI recruitment scandal," Shivakumar questioned.

"You harass those who conducted the press conference and brought this scandal out. You have harassed Priyank Kharge. The Karnataka police department had made a name in the entire country. You have destroyed the honour and dignity of the department.

"Wherever you see, everywhere it is all about money. Everything has to be cleaned under our government. The people are looking forward to a big change by this government. This should begin from the police department," Shivakumar said.

The message of change should reach people. Your earlier behaviour won't be tolerated. I know how you (the police department) behaved with me and CM Siddaramaiah during the PayCM campaign. You lodged cases against us. Thousands of false cases were lodged against our party workers. They were harassed. You did not spare me and Siddaramaiah, you could have done worse to normal people," Shivakumar said.

"However, you (police) did not lodge any case against the opposite party (then ruling BJP). You danced to their tunes and colluded with them. Why have you not booked a case on those who issued a statement that Siddaramaiah should be dealt with in the same way as erstwhile Mysuru ruler Tipu Sultan? He provoked murder, but you didn't book him (former IT and Higher Education Minister C.N. Ashwath Narayan)," Shivakumar stated.

"Is that not a crime? We have evidence of whatever you have done. All this will not be tolerated henceforth. You should change, your conduct should change. If not, we will have to change you. We will not carry forward hatred. We don't believe in it. Change yourself, start work afresh and give peace to the people," Shivakumar maintained.