‘Non-functional DMK government’ could not appoint even a regular DGP, says Palaniswami

A “non-functional” DMK government could not appoint a regular Director-General of Police (DGP)/Head of Police Force (HoPF), who plays an important role in the maintenance of law and order in the State, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami said in Madurai on Monday.

Continuing his Tamilagathai Meetpom, Makkalai Kaappom campaign in Thiruparankundram, the Leader of the Opposition complained that the DMK government had failed to appoint an eligible person to the post of HoPF in the State. Having known the date of retirement of the previous DGP Shankar Jiwal, the State government should have initiated the process to appoint his successor three months ago. It should have sent a panel of three eligible officers for the post to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). However, the DMK government had failed to do so.

Mr. Palaniswami charged the DMK government with attempting to appoint someone close to the party as the HoPF. He said the appointment of G. Venkatraman as DGP in-charge was not done based on eligibility. He said eight senior police officers had boycotted the event where Mr. Venkatraman assumed office. These senior police officers head important departments in the force, he remarked.

“If the officers in the rank of DGP had boycotted the DGP in-charge, how will the administration function smoothly at a time when law and order was deteriorating in the State?” he asked.

Mr. Palaniswami wondered how such a police force could protect the common man. Recalling that he had reminded the DMK government a few days back to initiate a proper process for the appointment of the DGP, he said the failure to do so was a big slip up by the DMK government.

Earlier in the day, the AIADMK leader was accorded a rousing reception on his arrival at the Madurai airport. He was accompanied by senior party leaders V.V. Rajan Chellappa, R.B. Udayakumar, and Sellur K. Raju, among others. He addressed gatherings in Thirumangalam and several other areas, and is scheduled to cover all 10 Assembly Constituencies in Madurai district.