Karnataka DGP Neelamani Raju denies reports of being transferred

Karnataka Director General of Police (DGP) NeelamaniRaju, who was reprimanded by Mamata Banerjee for forcing her to walk a few metres to attend HD Kumaraswamy's swearing-in ceremony in Vidhana Soudha, Bengaluru, on May 23, has not been transferred by the newly elected chief minister.

Why did Mamata Banerjee reprimand her?

The West Bengal chief minister had been invited to the swearing-in ceremony along with other regional politicos from across India as Kumaraswamy wanted to showcase the unity of the opposition parties. However, heavy rains which lashed Bengaluru just a few hours before the ceremony not only spoiled the seating arrangements that were made in the open but also caused traffic snarls near Vidhan Soudha.

As a result, Banerjee was forced to walk to the venue. Besides complaining about the inconvenience to Raju, the WB CM had also expressed discontentment to HD Deve Gowda and HD Kumaraswamy.

A video of Banerjee explaining her situation to a few dignitaries like Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) President Sharad Pawar had gone viral on social media. Though the JD(S) leaders pacified the West Bengal CM, her apparent discontentment over walking to the Vidhan Soudha got her trolled on Twitter.

While a few condemned her behaviour, others mocked her for the law and order situation in her state.

Amrita Bhinder @amritabhinder

Power has a short span. And the smaller you are, the more you feel it? People lose their capacity to walk, think, and remain grounded quite easily, no?

Pawan Dutta‏ @drpwndutta

So this is the way they run democracy. Shame on you @MamataOfficial You can't be a people's leader.

SR Madhavi‏ @Madhavi_Ap

First she has no shame to complain about walking few metres and on top of it making it as a fuss. And see how the old man once a PM is made to go around appeasing and explaining . Sad state of affairs.. imagine his pride if it had been the coalition with BJP.

Kumaraswamy and Raju clarifies on the alleged transfer

On Thursday (May 24), several reports claimed that, Kumaraswamy has transferred Raju, the first women officer to head the Karnataka police force. However, the CM on Friday (May 25) said that he has not transfered her.

"I am only the CM designate, not the CM until the floor test is over. I cannot make decisions about who should be transferred. Neelamani Raju has not been transferred now," The News Minute quoted Kumaraswamy as saying.

Meanwhile, Raju has submitted a verbal report to CM Kumaraswamy as to what led Banerjee to walk till Vidhan Soudha.

"Since Rahul Gandhi's convoy was already en route, CM Mamata Banerjee's convoy was asked to wait for a few minutes until the convoy passed," Raju said, reported the English daily.