Act on ADGP's letter, do not destroy police system, BJP tells state govt

The BJP on Monday demanded that the state government take serious note of ADGP and IPS (Karnataka) Association president Dr R P Sharma's letter and initiate steps to address concerns expressed by the officer on political interference in police duties.

BJP spokesperson and former law minister S Suresh Kumar has said Chief Secretary Rathna Prabha should concede to the demand of Dr Sharma and convene a meeting of IPS officers immediately.

"The letter written by the association to the chief secretary is full of concern. Each and every sentence of the letter will be endorsed by every citizen of the state. The letter has raised relevant issues at the right time. As mentioned in the letter, the police system is under strain. No ruling party, just for its survival and to protect its followers, does not have the right to destroy a system. The common man is not safe, officers are not safe; even the Lokayukta is not safe in Karnataka. Through the meeting, the chief secretary should create an atmosphere of confidence for the police system to work with free and fair mindset. No excuse can be given to deny this request. Ultimately, the system and institution is more important than a person, howsoever big he may be," Kumar said.

Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Jagadish Shettar said that the letter proved Siddaramaiah's "autocratic leadership". "There is constant political interference and honest officials cannot dispense their duties freely," he said. He also said that home minister exists "only in name". "He wields no power. Karnataka has become a goonda raj," Shettar added.

Demanding that Prabha convene the meeting immediately, BJP MLA and former Home minister R Ashoka said that the government should not punish Dr Sharma for his letter.

Countering the BJP's attack, Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy said that the saffron party leaders were targeting the Congress on "Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's directions".