"Hold collar of SP, collector to become big leader": Minister
Raipur: A Chhattisgarh minister courted controversy after a video of him, in which he is heard purportedly saying he had advised a boy to "hold the collar of SP and collector to become a big politician", surfaced on Monday.
Commercial Tax (Excise) and Industry Minister Kawasi Lakhma had reportedly made the remark during Teachers Day celebration on September 5 in a government school in Sukma district headquarter of the state.
Taking a dig at his alleged comment, a BJP leader congratulated Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, saying His minister used good words for the executive"
In the video, the Congress minister is seen sitting among schoolchildren and heard narrating some recent incident of interaction with students. Lakhma is heard saying to some people who were not in the frame, that once he was asked by a student how he become a "big leader".
"The boy asked me `how I became a big politician and what he had to do (to become a political leader)'. I told him to hold the collar of SP (superintendent of police) or (district) collector, he is heard saying in the video.
Students and others were seen laughing after his comment. However, when contacted, Lakhma claimed he had been "misquoted" and had never mentioned about holding the "collar of SP or collector". "I visit schools and ashrams to meet students and ask them what they aspire to become.
"Once when a student asked me what he should do to become a leader like me, I told him to study well and then fight for the public cause on the street and do hard struggle.
"The statement of holding the collar of SP and collector, which being shown, is fake. I told him to struggle hard to become a leader, Lakhma told PTI over the phone.
The video was shared by former minister and BJP MLA Ajay Chandrakar on Twitter who sarcastically wrote congratulations to Bhupesh Baghel ji. Your minister has used good words for the executive.
"It would be better if you (CM) send him to Kurud (Chandrakars constituency) so that he can re-inaugurate public works dedicated by me. This will strengthen the democracy, Chandrakar tweeted.
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Telangana CM urges Amit Shah to increase sanctioned strength of IPS officers in state
Hyderabad (PTI): Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi on Wednesday night and urged him to increase the sanctioned strength of IPS officers to the state in view of its growing administrative and security needs.
The two leaders also discussed the recent surrender of several senior Maoist leaders before the Telangana Police and other issues.
"During the meeting, the two leaders discussed the issue of Maoist surrenders and their rehabilitation. The chief minister informed Shah that significant improvements in policing have taken place in Telangana over the past two years," an official release here said.
Highlighting that 591 Maoists have laid down their arms and joined the mainstream of society during this period, the chief minister said the state government was providing them compensation and rehabilitation assistance as per the rules.
He requested the Union home minister to extend financial support from the central government for development works in the backward regions of the state.
Reddy also urged Shah to increase the sanctioned strength of IPS officers to the state from 83 to 105 in line with the state's growing administrative and security needs, the statement said.
The first cadre review after the formation of Telangana was conducted in 2016, while the next review, due in 2021, was delayed and finally carried out in 2025. Even then, only seven additional IPS officers were allocated to the state, the chief minister informed Shah and requested that the third cadre review be conducted in 2026 as per the schedule.
Reddy explained that Telangana, like the rest of the country, is facing several modern challenges, including cybercrime, drug trafficking, white-collar crimes, and other emerging security threats.
He highlighted the reorganisation of the Hyderabad, Cyberabad, and Malkajgiri Police Commissionerates, the proposed formation of the Future City Commissionerate and the rapidly growing population in Hyderabad to underline the increasing administrative requirements of the state.
