Maverick Telugu Desam Party leader and former Anantapur MP J C Diwakar Reddy’s unsavoury comments against the police at a meeting on Wednesday evoked strong reactions from the police officers’ association.
Speaking at a TDP meeting in Anantapur right in front of party president and former chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, JC said he would police officials lick his boots once the TDP returned to power.
He made the comments against the police officials in the district, barring the Superintendent of Police (SP).
He alleged that the police officials were harassing the TDP cadre by pressuring them to join the ruling party and foisting cases against TDP cadre including retired government officials.
Alleging that the police are pressurising TDP cadre to join YSR Congress, Diwakar Reddy said the police are bending on their knees (before the ruling party leaders) barring the SP.
“I know that the SP is a good man, but he is also under pressure. I am telling now those policemen who are acting at the behest of the ruling party will not be spared. These police officers will have service of more than 10 years. Once our government returns, I will make these policemen lick my boots,’’ he said.
Taking strong exception to Diwakar Reddy’s comments, the Anantapur district police officers' union demanded an unconditional apology from him to the police.
Representatives of the District Police Officers Association Sake Trilok Nath, Zafar, Sudhakar Reddy, Gondla Harinath, Tej Paul and Sivakumar told the media that not only the people of the state know as to who had licked the shoes but also the people of the state.
"It is unfortunate that Chandrababu Naidu, who had worked for 14 years as chief minister, did not even condemned Diwakar Reddy’s comments," he said.
The association leaders recalled that Diwakar Reddy had paid heavy penalty for his comments he had made in the past and was facing the music even now.
"Can you come out without gunmen?" Police association questioned JC.
They said the Anantapur district police system was working effectively, ethically and honestly. They threatened to file a case against the former MP and fight for his prosecution.
“We shall bring the matter to the attention of the authorities to file criminal cases. It is not known whether JC will be in the future, but, the police system will,” the police officers asserted.
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