- By Kamal Kumar
- Fri, 12 Apr 2024 12:03 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Kashi Vishwanath Police Dress Row: The Samajwadi Party condemned the Uttar Pradesh government for an order which directed the police personnel deployed in the 'Gribha Griha' of Varanasi's Kashi Vishwanath temple to wear the traditional attire, rather than the police uniform. Party president Akhilesh Yadav demanded the suspension of the officer who issued the order. Notably, the male and female police personnel deployed at the temple were directed to don the attire of priests on the orders of Varanasi Police Commissioner Mohit Agarwal.
While the male officers were directed to wear Dhoti-Kurta, female personnel were asked to wear Salwar-Kurta, reported PTI. Police Commissioner Agarwal had earlier told reporters that people who come from far away places to have obeisance have regard for the priests and they often get hurt if they are pushed forward by the policemen.
Raising concern on the new trend, the SP chief took to the X (formerly Twitter) and wrote: "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' (fraudster) takes advantage of this and loots the innocent public, then what will the UP government and administration answer? Condemnable!".
Akhilesh also posted a 35-second video of a news report on his handle.
"The duty in the temple is different from other place as police have to manage different types of crowd here. The crowd here is not for creating law and order problems. The police are here to ensure easy darshan to people and help and guide them," Police Chief Agarwal had said earlier.
ALSO READ: PM Modi Reviews Country's Preparedness For Projected Heatwave Conditions During Summer
"The devotees get hurt if being pushed by policemen, if the same thing is done by priests they take it positively. Following no-touch policy, policemen are being deployed in priests attire," he added.
(With PTI Inputs)