Bihar policemen not to play Holi in protest of govt's decision

About one lakh policemen in Bihar have decided not to celebrate holi along with their families tomorrow in protest against Nitish Kumar cabinet decision to annul the approval given by previous Manjhi government.
Around one lakh Bihar Police personnel, from the rank of constables to inspectors, today decided not to celebrate the festival of Holi tomorrow to protest against the state government's decision to scrap the additional one month salary every year approved for them by the previous Jitan Ram Manjhi government, Bihar Police Association (BPA) President Mrityunjay Kumar Singh told PTI.
The Manjhi government, in a cabinet decision taken on February 18, had ordered that the police personnel will get 13 months salary every year which was struck down yesterday.

"80,000 constables and around 19,000 sub-inspectors and inspectors, as well as, their family members will not celebrate Holi tomorrow. The state government's decision to do away with the 13-month salary per annum approved for us has turned our happiness into sorrow," the BPA President said.
Singh said the family members of the police personnel will also not indulge in Holi celebrations and observe mourning on the occasion.
He pointed out that police personnel in states like Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan and even Delhi get 13 months salary in a year to compensate for their tough duty with no holidays.

"In Bihar also we are continuously strained, with no holidays for us. In fact, when others celebrate festivals, our police personnel are on regular duty to prevent any untoward incident by criminals or anti-social elements. Cancelling a decision taken for our benefit by the Manjhi government is gross injustice," Singh added.

He also said that BPA will soon hold a general body meeting over the issue and chalk out plans for further agitation.
The agitating policemen got backing from RJD.
RJD spokesperson and former minister Bhagwan Singh Kushwaha said, "We demand that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar should reconsider his decision. It is not necessary to accept all the resolutions of Manjhi, but better pay to policemen and home guards is a welfare move."
Kushwaha said giving 13-month salary will compensate a little for the hard duty to which the police personnel are put to 365 days a year. "We all see this, and something should be done for them," he added.