Cops protest: Leadership is about tough decisions, says Kiran Bedi

Hours after Delhi Police personnel protesting outside the Police Headquarters remembered one of their most beloved officers, the Puducherry Lt. Governor took to Twitter to share her memories and emotions of an era gone by when the national capital had seen similar scenes of protesting as they vented anger over their colleagues being thrashed by lawyers.

New Delhi: Puducherry Lt. Governor Kiran Bedi took to Twitter as Delhi police personnel invoked her name during their protest against repeated violence against their colleagues. Bedi said that rights and responsibilities are two sides of the same coin and there is no conflict when one exercises their responsibilities. She further stated that leadership is about tough decisions.

Delhi Police personnel protesting outside the Police Headquarters remembered one of their most beloved officers on Tuesday with loud chants of "Kiran Bedi Lao, Delhi Police Bachao".

In a series of tweets, Bedi said that rights and responsibilities are two sides of the same coin and there needs to be a major shift in emphasis in this regard. The reason for the police personnel remembering Bedi, the first woman Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, is rooted to the February 17, 1988 incident at Tis Hazari Court Complex. Bedi backed the police force and had a face-off with lawyers, who were protesting the handcuffing of an advocate on suspicion of theft.

"Leadership is a ‘Character’ that takes responsibility and takes tough decisions. It is a ‘life’ of ‘doing’. Tough times go, Memories of tough acts remain," the former IPS wrote.

This was in complete contrast to the support that the officials received after the Saturday incident when lawyers on Monday thrashed policemen in the Saket court. On Tuesday, Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik was booed by constables after he asked them to call off the agitation.

Hundreds of Delhi Police personnel on Tuesday gheraoed the Police Headquarters (PHQ) at ITO here to protest against repeated incidents of violence against them by lawyers. A parking row between police personnel and lawyers on Saturday had escalated leading to violence and arson at the Tis Hazari Court complex.

At least 20 police personnel and several lawyers were injured and many vehicles were damaged in the incident. The lawyers alleged that the police fired at them.

The Delhi High Court on Sunday ordered a judicial inquiry into the violence by a team comprising a retired judge, Directors of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Intelligence Bureau and Vigilance.

Read: Previous three instances when lawyers and police clashed