The Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday appealed to Governor H.R. Bhardwaj to direct Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to sack Minister for Home K.G. George in the wake of the “disturbing episode” of the Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) personnel staging protests, and a public spat between top police officials.
A delegation of BJP leaders, led by Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Jagadish Shettar and his deputy, R. Ashok, met the Governor at the Raj Bhavan and handed over a memorandum. They alleged that Mr. George had lost control over the Police Department.
The BJP leaders said the government had allowed the erosion of the credibility of the police force with its silence on the episode in which Additional Director-General of Police (ADGP) A. Ravindranath has been accused of taking pictures of two women in a coffee shop in Bangalore. While Dr. Ravindranath has been making various allegations against the police top brass, the KSRP personnel have been showing solidarity by staging protests and blocking roads in his support, the BJP leaders said.
They also said Mr. George had lost the moral right to continue in the Ministry.
“The State machinery has come to a grinding halt. If the police themselves take to the streets, the public are wondering about the safety of the common man. The State is witnessing a breakdown of constitutional machinery, leading to a total collapse of law and order,” the BJP memorandum alleged. The leaders sought the Governor’s intervention saying it was not the first incident of failure of the law and order situation in the State. They asked the Governor to direct the government to ensure speedy investigation in the matter. They also asked him to instruct the Chief Minister to take up confidence-building measures to restore the credibility of the department among the public.
Protest plannedThe BJP has decided to stage a protest here on Monday against what it called the “insensitivity” of the government over the public spat between the ADGP and Bangalore city Police Commissioner. The party’s Bangalore city legislators and BBMP members will take part in the protest scheduled to be held outside the Town Hall, according to party leaders.
Joshi’s demandStaff Correspondent from Tumkur writes:
At a press conference in Tumkur on Saturday, BJP State unit president demanded that Mr. George be dismissed as the State needed an “efficient” Home Minister. Alleging that the State was moving towards anarchy, he demanded that the Governor direct the Chief Minister to dismiss Mr. George.
