NEW DELHI - Policemen in the Indian state of Rajasthan declined to give a guard of honour to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday in Jodhpur, amid rumours that a government order would reduce their pay scales, said a report.
In an embarrassment to the Rajasthan government, more than 250 policemen went on a day’s mass leave. Some them were supposed to give the guard of honour to Singh.
According to Jodhpur Police Commissioner Ashok Rathod, “Over 250 policemen went on a day’s mass leave on Monday. It was not a sanctioned leave. They absented themselves from duty…some of them were part of the guard of honour, but they refused to report for duty.
This was a “serious” issue, he said and added that action would be taken against the guilty policemen.
“The action will be uniform in nature,” said the commissioner. Indiscipline in any form would not be condoned, according to Rajasthan DGP Ajit Singh.
The state constabulary has been protesting against rumours that their pay scale grades would be reduced from the existing INR 24,000 to the proposed INR 19,000 per month. This followed a WhatsApp message which went viral among groups of constables.
The DGP letter had to issue a letter on Monday, directing inspector generals and district superintendents of police to speak to the protesting constables and dispel the pay cut rumours.