With Governor Bl Joshi unable to take salute of the traditional police parade taken out on occasion of `Police Week’ due to his illness, chief minister Akhilesh Yadav too not turned up at the venue to boost the morale of the police force here on Monday afternoon. This is first time in the history of Police Week that both Governor and Chief Minister did not turned up at the main function which is traditional police parade.
The absence of chief minister has been also taken up as a message to the police personnel that Akhilesh Yadav, though gave green signal for the celebration of Police Week as his arch rival Mayawati had winded it up, but was not happy with the performance of the Department particularly in the manner in which the media highlighted deteriorating law and order, hence he not turned up.
Reading out the speech of chief guest, governor Bl Joshi, soon after taking salute of the traditional police parade, director general of police, Rizwan Ahmed, said that governor stressed urgent need of change in attitude of cops and they should live up to the expectation of the poor and down-trodden section of the society. ``We should be polite and must be serious in approach while taking up in complaint of the weaker section", Rizwan called to the policemen while reading out suggestions made by Joshi.
He said that image of the police should be changed and it is only possible by taking up the complaints and problems faced by the public on top priorities. ``In the changed scenario, the role of the police is not just confined to maintain law and order but also to forward helping hand to the public during other social problems faced by them", Rizwan Ahmed read out.
DGP also said that Joshi is his address had stressed of forwarding full security to the members of fairer sex and had lauded the efforts of lucknow police for starting a women helpline. He claimed that image of the police could also change through better relations with media and also by highlighting the achievement as well as making awareness of the services provided by the department through various means of communications. later Rizwan Ahmed also honoured 103 officers, who received Presidents Medal for Gallantry, Presidents Fire Service Medal, and Presidents
Medal for Distinguished Services. The above officers also included three who get the honour posthumously. later in the afternoon, senior officers meeting also held at Radio Police head-quarter under the leadership of DGP Rizwan Ahmed. Ahmed called the cops to maintain the rich Awadhi culture of brotherhood and kept themselves ready to forward all kind of help. ``Only by going into the public, understanding their problems and always ready to get it solved could change the image of the Police Department", Ahmed called asking the cops to deal common man with soft hands and handle criminals and anti-social elements with tough hands. He asked the cops to get themselves ready to curb crime against children, weaker section and members of fairer sex.