Police promotions a routine matter, not a special gesture, says Shettar

MANGALURU: The announcement of promotions to 11,000-odd policemen by CM Siddaramaiah at a department review meeting in Bengaluru on Wednesday, has been termed as the continuation of government’s apathy towards the menin khaki by his predecessor Jagadish Shettar.
The government is continuing with its escapist attitude to legitimate demands of the state’s police force and taking shelter behind the pay commission constituted by it, Shettar alleged.
In an informal interaction with TOI on the sidelines of a function at Talapady near here, Shettar said the promotions (police constable onwards upto PSIs and other posts) would have happened even otherwise. The government is adopting a half-hearted approach towards police welfare and has now tied down their wage revision to the recommendations of the pay commission.
“If the government so wished, it could have announced a special package,” he noted. Pointing that he had raised this very issue during discussions on the law and order situation in Karnataka in the just concluded session of the legislature at Belagavi, Shettar said the government had parried the issue even there without giving any conclusive reply.
When pointed such a move by the government could have led to similar demands from other government employees, Shettar said policemen were denied a hike when other government employees got a raise last time.
Defending the move by the opposition to raise the issue of minister Tanvir Sait watching objectionable clips on his cell phone during Tipu Jayanti celebrations, Shettar said he was sure that the government would defend Sait to the hilt.
It would not have mattered when and at what point during the session, the opposition raised the issue, for the government had clearly indicated by its earlier moves that it would neither oust Sait nor seek his resignation.
Shettar said that the Congress government is insensitive towards the feelings of either the legislature or that of the people.
“When we were in power, the government did respond to public sentiments and those expressed in the legislature. The same was seen in the party directing three ministers caught in a similar situation to step down,” he said, adding the opposition wanted more meaningful discussions on North Karnataka issues.