Police associations condemn MLA’s remarks during Veenavanka jatara, demand apology

The Telangana IPS Officers’ Association and the Telangana Police Officers Association on January 30 separately condemned remarks made by Huzurabad MLA Padi Kaushik Reddy against police officers during the Sammakka Saralamma Jatara, terming them baseless, indecent and damaging to the morale of the force.

In an official statement, the Telangana IPS Officers’ Association said the MLA made malicious and unsubstantiated allegations against Gaush Alam, Commissioner of Police, Karimnagar, on January 29 while police personnel were discharging their lawful duties. The Association alleged that the MLA named the officer’s religion and accused him of attempting religious conversions, an allegation it said was entirely false and unwarranted.

The IPS Association said it was deeply disturbed by references to the religion of a serving officer and described the episode as a serious attack on the morale, independence and dignity of the civil services. It demanded an immediate and unconditional public apology from the MLA and said it would urge appropriate authorities to take cognisance of the matter.