‘Will decide on suspended cops in week’
After a vociferous demand from the Shiv Sena legislators to revoke suspension of police officers in connection with the Palghar Facebook case, home minister R.R. Patil on Thursday assured the legislative council that a final decision on the concerned officers would be taken within a week.
Replying to a question by Shiv Sena leader Diwakar Raote in the legislative council, the home minister said, “Policemen suspended in the Palghar Facebook case presented their views before the committee appointed by the government. A decision on it will be taken at a meeting chaired by chief secretary on March 16. The legislative council will be informed of the decision in the coming week.”
Raising to the issue in the House during the question hour, Mr Raote had sought to know as to why the concerned officers were suspended even before the inquiry against them concluded.
Demanding that their suspension be revoked, Mr Raote asked, “Are the police supposed to remain mute spectators, even when vulgar comments are posted on Facebook?” He also accused the government of playing vote-bank politics, and demoralising the police force.
However, Mr Patil said that the decision to suspend police officers was not intended to demoralise the police. He assured the House that the committee appointed by the government to probe the matter, would take a decision within a week.
The home minister’s reply did not satisfy Sena leaders. Another Sena leader Ramdas Kadam said, “This House is bigger than the committee. The home minister should take into account the feelings expressed by members of the House and use his powers to revoke the suspension of the police officers.”
Leader of opposition Vinod Tawde also said that it was improper to demoralise the police department. Chairman of the House Shivajirao Deshmukh concurred with the Opposition leader’s views and directed Mr Patil to take a decision in the matter at the earliest.
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