While thanking police constables for not resorting to ‘strike’ by applying for mass leave on Saturday, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah reiterated that the demands of the constabulary would be looked into, and added that the issues concerning police personnel would be addressed through talks.
“I know the State police is a disciplined force. This was evident on Saturday when they maintained discipline by not resorting to strike called by the Akhila Karnataka Police Mahasangha. This association was formed by a constable who was dismissed from the service several years ago,” he told reporters at the Lalitha Mahal helipad.
The Chief Minister, who later garlanded the statue of Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar at K.R. Circle on the occasion of his birth anniversary, claimed that the government had taken several measures for the welfare of the police personnel and added that the government was committed to address their grievances.
He, however, rejected the accusations that the government bullied the police personnel against resorting to mass leave strike.
On the recent sting operation, the Chief Minister said the government had no plans of holding an inquiry into the episode since the MLAs in question had claimed their innocence and refuted the charges made in the sting operation. Responding to former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda’s reported charge that the Congress was behind the sting operation to destroy the JD(S) party, Mr. Siddaramaiah rejected the accusation and added that the JD(S) was caught up in internal rift. He also refuted claims that the Congress party was luring JD(S) MLAs.
While expressing confidence of the party candidate’s victory in the elections from South Graduates’ Constituency, the Chief Minister said the party workers should strive for Ravindra’s victory and expressed confidence that all the leaders would work in his favour.
