Video conferencing on UP law and order : ROFL moments galore

Lucknow: The video conference of Principal Secretary (Home) Debashish Panda and Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police Javeed Ahmad with the senior police officials of the state was more of a comedy show than anything else as 'overweening' cops promised 'moon', in a way conceding they were nowhere near the mark during last five years.

The meeting, purposely to review the law and order of the state, was arranged on the direction of new UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, was more of a 'confessional' session rather than trying to evolve some strategy.

It was so funny that the police fraternity of UP had to be reminded that 'the new government has come and now rule of law has to be followed.' Was it otherwise for last five years? Was rule of law not followed during Akhilesh Yadav regime.

The two-hour meeting emphasised more on the 'new work culture' while there was no discussion on what prevented them to adopt work culture when Samajwadi Party was in the power. Every officer was sure of doing wonders 'now' failing to tell why did not they do it earlier.

It was more of a failure story because Principal Secretary (home) Panda was on this post for many years while DGP Javeed and ADG (L & O) Daljit Chaudhary had also spent considerable time on their respective posts. Why were they not on this kind of 'overdrive' before.

It was ROFL ( roll on the floor laughing ) moment for all those who were attending or watching the Video Conference when an Inspector General (IG) level officer promised the top brass of the department '' sir, now you will see paradigm shift in the policing.'' Where the paradigm shift had shifted in the previous government, remains anybody guess.

A senior police official, who was attending the meet, said the kind of enthusiasm every field officer was displaying had been missing in the state. He also questioned why the posting of the station officers of one particular caste in large numbers was not discussed during the meeting.

When everyone was on a ‘let bygone be bygone’ mode, the political interferenceof Akhilesh Yadav regime and ‘ special’ favour to officials of one caste could have been discussed, pointed out another senior IPS officer who was of the view that the content of the meeting had only shown the subservience of police before the political masters instead of projecting the force as a professional bunch.