Cong workers, Dalits protest against top cop outside Gujarat Police HQ

Gandhinagar: Congress members and Dalit organizations from across the state staged a protest outside the Gujarat Police headquarters at Police Bhavan in Gandhinagar on Wednesday. They sought the removal of additional director general of police (ADGP) (SC/ST Cell) Rajkumar Pandian for his alleged misbehaviour with Congress MLA Jignesh Mevani and for “insulting the dignity, rights, and esteem of 50 lakh Dalits of Gujarat”.

Mevani wrote a letter to Union home minister Amit Shah and handed over a memorandum at the office of DGP Vikas Sahay. He reiterated his demand for the removal of the senior cop, alleging that he violated protocol by misbehaving with a sitting MLA when he went to his office on Oct 15 to make a representation about the rights of Dalits.

Several senior leaders of the state Congress, including state president Shaktisinh Gohil, joined the protest organized by the Rashtriya Dalit Adhikar Manch. The protestors raised slogans against the IPS officer and sought his removal from office.

“Keeping in mind the history of accusations and the consequential jail term undergone by Rajkumar Pandian, I do see myself threatened. I am compelled to say that if any harm is done to me, my life and property, or the life and property of my family, or the life and property of Hitendra Pithadiya, or the life and property of any of my team members, in any such case, Rajkumar Pandian should be held responsible,” he said in the letter to the DGP.

However, Pandian denied the allegations levelled against him, calling them “baseless”, and asserted the state police gave due importance to the welfare and safety of weaker sections of society, including Dalits and tribals.

“When (Mevani) came to meet me on Oct 15, I called him immediately inside without any delay by letting others wait. Instead of talking about the issue (of land encroachment), he started shouting in the chamber, saying ‘why I did not go outside to receive him and not follow protocols’,” he said. The IPS officer said the opposition party legislator put his mobile phone on his office table with its voice recorder on, which he objected to as unacceptable behaviour.

“Upon this, he (Mevani) started shouting. I asked him how I can attend to his grievance in a situation like this. I told him, either you do it properly or I will not give you time, you can approach a senior officer,” said the ADGP.

“Whenever there is any incident regarding SC/STs, we analyse them and write to the concerned CPs (Commissioners of Police) and SPs (Superintendent of Police) and address their grievances immediately,” he pointed out. (With PTI inputs)

Courtesy : TOI

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