Bengaluru: After a two and a half hour session with the city's police force on Tuesday, aimed at preventing the state’s 60,000 strong police force from going on a mass strike on June 4, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has reportedly decided he will enforce the Essential Services Maintenance Act.
As reported by Deccan Chronicle on May 25, a major chunk of the 60,000 man force, of the rank of constable and assistant sub-inspectors had planned to secretly take leave, en masse, this coming Saturday.
Faced with the hugely embarrassing situation of non-co-operation by the police force - and with the police chief refusing to acknowledge that a mass no show by the lower rungs of the police was a distinct possibility - Chief Minister Siddaramaiah jumped in to put pressure on the policemen not to go on their proposed strike on June 4.
Talking tough, Mr Siddaramaiah warned that strict action will be taken if they went ahad with the strike, which amounted to indiscipline, and asked them not to get provoked by non-recognised organizations.
After a meeting with Home Minister Dr G. Parameshwar and senior police officials on Tuesday, Mr Siddaramaiah said that the police should know their responsibilities and are bound to protect the interests of the state and citizens.
On a conciliatory note, he said, “I have faith in the police force and I am sure that they would not be provoked and carried away by non-recognised organizations.”
"If the police have any genuine grievances or lawful demands, they should discuss with the authorities and resolve them amicably. A protest is not the solution. Policemen who resort to protests will be dealt with seriously and legal action will be initiated against them," he warned.
The government is also contemplating serious action against those who provoke police personnel into going on strike The home department is tracking down those who are spreading such messages and action will be taken against them, Mr. Siddaramaiah said, refusing to divulge the legal option before the government.
Slamming the BJP for supporting the protest, he said that some organisations were indulging in it only to gain political mileage. “The BJP was in power in the state and now it is running the government at the Centre. If it supports such protests, it would boomerang on them," he said.
Heed cops’ demands: AAP
Members of the AAP said that the government should immediately heed to the demands of the police personnel and avoid the mass strike. Terming an overworked, underpaid, stressed and dissatisfied police force as a disaster for the safety and security of citizens, AAP workers urged the government to look into policemen's demands of wages in line with salaries of cops in other states, reducing the number of working hours by immediately appointing required number of policemen and officers, allowing leaves as per applicable labour laws and providing them better housing quarters.
850 cops apply for leave in Belagavi
Despite stringent orders issued by Police Department to its senior officials against granting of leave to any police personnel on June 4, the day when all personnel will be launching a state-wide agitation, about 850 personnel have already submitted letters seeking leave on June 4 in Belagavi.
More leave letters are expected to be submitted in Belagavi before their agitation is launched. Sources said 750 leave letters submitted in rural police stations while 100 in stations spread in Belagavi city. The personnel continued to submit letters on Tuesday even as senior police officials held several meetings in an attempt to stop them from doing so.
ADGP Kamal Panth also held a meeting of all senior officials ordering them not to grant leave to the personnel on June 4. Several organisations from across the district have extended support to the personnel assuring support to the upcoming agitation. A massive support has been given to the personnel by many organisations and leaders on social media.
Leaders of agitating personnel were consulting their lawyers on the next course of action in case of police department initiating legal action against them for their proposed mass leave. However top police sources in Belagavi said none of police personnel from Belagavi would be taking part in June 4 agitation.
Leaders from various organisations in Belagavi have urged the department to fulfill all major demands of the personnel to avoid them from carrying out their agitation. The police personnel have been demanding several facilities from the department for a long time, but in vain, leaders said.
