Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, May 28: The episode in which a policeman was seen taking photographs of the crowd that was widely believed as the recording the minister’s movements, during the visit of muzrai department minister S N Krishnaiah Shetty to Banashaknari Temple had kicked up a row.  The media had speculated that this was part of the close watch being kept by the Chief Minister on the movements of his colleagues. Seeking to put at rest such speculations, home minister Dr V S Acharya dismissed allegations of any such move by the state government. "The policemen were looking after the security, they were not posted there to give intelligence inputs to the government or to watch the movement of the minister concerned," he said.

It may be recalled, that a plains-clothed policeman was found recording the angry exchange of words between a crowd that was agitated about the late arrival of the minister and the a few others including the minister. When the media men there and people questioned the man about his identity, he had given his identity as being a policeman, before fleeing, leaving behind his mobile phone. This had given rise to a media speculation that the movements of ministers were being closely monitored.

The minister clarified in a press conference held here on Wednesday May 27, that the government has not been keeping an eye on the movement of any of the ministers. He said, out of the policemen present, about 10% were in plain clothes. One of the policemen who was not in uniforms, took photographs of the  agitated people. This had angered the crowd, attracting the media glare.