The Crossbill News Desk
A major controversy broke out after Varanasi policemen, stationed at the gates of Kashi Viswanath Temple, were spotted wearing saffron attire with a tilak on their forehead like temple priests on Wednesday (April 10).
The change of police attire from usual khaki uniforms to donning kurta-dhotis within the temple premises was done on the directive issued by the Varanasi's Commissioner of Police. The policemen were reportedly chanting ‘Har Har Mahadev’ (Hail Lord Shiva).
Varanasi Police Commissioner Mohit Agarwal told the The Indian Express that the initiative has been rolled out for a 15-day trial period, after which it will be reviewed. This was tested in 2018 as well, but was discontinued after the trial period.
“We need to ensure that devotees feel respected, especially during times of large gatherings and visits of VIPs,” Agarwal told the newspaper.
According the police, a three-day communication skills training programme is also underway for the police personnel deployed at the temple. At the initial phrase four male police personnel were stationed at the four gates of the Temple, while four female police personnel stationed with them will also start wearing kurtas soon.
The directive issued by the police authorities stipulates that male officers will wear red or saffron dhotis, and kurta and carry an angvastram over their shoulders and tilak on their foreheads to resemble priests, while female officers will don salwar-kurtas in saffron and red.
The move has invited much criticism from the opposition parties. UP’s main opposition Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav took to X condemning the incident.
In a post on X, former UP Chief Minister wrote, पुजारी के वेश में पुलिसकर्मियों का होना किस ‘पुलिस मैन्युअल’ के हिसाब से सही है? इस तरह का आदेश देनेवालों को निलंबित किया जाए। कल को इसका लाभ उठाकर कोई भी ठग भोली-भाली जनता को लूटेगा तो उप्र शासन-प्रशासन क्या जवाब देगा। निंदनीय! (“According to which police manual is it correct for policemen to be dressed as priests? Those who give such orders should be suspended. If tomorrow any thug takes advantage of this and loots the innocent public, then what answer will the UP government and administration give? Condemnable!”)
Among the other political parties, CPI(M) has demanded immediate withdrawal of the Varanasi Police Commissioner's order, calling the move as gravely objectionable and anti-constitutional.
The change of police attire from usual khaki uniforms to donning kurta-dhotis within the temple premises was done on the directive issued by the Varanasi's Commissioner of Police. The policemen were reportedly chanting ‘Har Har Mahadev’ (Hail Lord Shiva).
Varanasi Police Commissioner Mohit Agarwal told the The Indian Express that the initiative has been rolled out for a 15-day trial period, after which it will be reviewed. This was tested in 2018 as well, but was discontinued after the trial period.
“We need to ensure that devotees feel respected, especially during times of large gatherings and visits of VIPs,” Agarwal told the newspaper.
According the police, a three-day communication skills training programme is also underway for the police personnel deployed at the temple. At the initial phrase four male police personnel were stationed at the four gates of the Temple, while four female police personnel stationed with them will also start wearing kurtas soon.
The directive issued by the police authorities stipulates that male officers will wear red or saffron dhotis, and kurta and carry an angvastram over their shoulders and tilak on their foreheads to resemble priests, while female officers will don salwar-kurtas in saffron and red.
The move has invited much criticism from the opposition parties. UP’s main opposition Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav took to X condemning the incident.
In a post on X, former UP Chief Minister wrote, पुजारी के वेश में पुलिसकर्मियों का होना किस ‘पुलिस मैन्युअल’ के हिसाब से सही है? इस तरह का आदेश देनेवालों को निलंबित किया जाए। कल को इसका लाभ उठाकर कोई भी ठग भोली-भाली जनता को लूटेगा तो उप्र शासन-प्रशासन क्या जवाब देगा। निंदनीय! (“According to which police manual is it correct for policemen to be dressed as priests? Those who give such orders should be suspended. If tomorrow any thug takes advantage of this and loots the innocent public, then what answer will the UP government and administration give? Condemnable!”)
पुजारी के वेश में पुलिसकर्मियों का होना किस ‘पुलिस मैन्युअल’ के हिसाब से सही है? इस तरह का आदेश देनेवालों को निलंबित किया जाए। कल को इसका लाभ उठाकर कोई भी ठग भोली-भाली जनता को लूटेगा तो उप्र शासन-प्रशासन क्या जवाब देगा।
— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) April 11, 2024
निंदनीय! pic.twitter.com/BQUFmb7xAA
Among the other political parties, CPI(M) has demanded immediate withdrawal of the Varanasi Police Commissioner's order, calling the move as gravely objectionable and anti-constitutional.
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