Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (RJP)

Bengaluru, May 27: Akhila Karnataka Police Mahasangha president V Shashidhar’s has sent a ‘gift’ containing a saree, a set of bangles and vermillion through courier to DG&IGP Om Prakash as a mark of protest against the move to suspend the constables going on mass leave on June 4.

The parcel was sent on Thursday May 26 through speed post.

The Karnataka state commission for women has strongly objected to this act of sending saree and bangles to the police chief as a mark of protest.

“It is an act of disrespecting women. Stringent action should be taken against those indulging in such acts. The commission strongly condemns the act as it has degraded women and lowered women’s dignity in a civilised society. The act has tarnished the image of women. He could have sent something else,” women’s commission chairperson Manjula Manasa said on Thursday.

Women staff in the police department also objected about the items sent in the said parcel.

“It is my fundamental right to send the items of my choice. I wanted to adopt traditional way to respect DG & IGP for his decision to suspend or dismiss the cops going on mass leave on June 4. I did not intend to disrespect women,” said Shashidhar reacting to the objection from women.

“Women have proved their mettle in the department and they cannot be weak just because they are clad in sarees and use bangles and vermillion. Shashidhar’s act can never be justified,” a senior women IPS officer said.

“He thinks that saree, vermillion and bangles indicate weakness, but they are used to denote respect and dignity. Shashidhar has clearly misused his fundamental right,” senior advocate Pramila Nesargi echoed similar views.

Meanwhile home minister G Parameshwara on Thursday said that none of the personnel from the state police is involved in planning the protest.

”An outsider by name Shashidar has given a call for the protest. Police personnel are not supposed to protest as per the police manual,” he added.