02-08-2025
‘Poor must trust you are on their side': In Gandhinagar, Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel advises police to work with people
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Saturday cautioned young police officers about the power their uniforms held, saying, 'Your presence and dignity should be such that people who seek to trample others are afraid of you, while the poor, the suffering, and the common man have faith and trust that you are on their side'.
Patel was speaking at the medal-pinning ceremony of the Gujarat Police at the Police Training Academy in Karai, Gandhinagar, where 118 officers and personnel received the medals announced between 2022 and 2025. Five additional director generals of police, six inspector generals, two deputy inspector generals, and seven superintendents of police.
'Police are essential for the safety and security of society, and one cannot even imagine the chaos that would take place in their absence. Police means 'the protector of the people', and this message has become ingrained in society. The police must keep working with the trust of the people, and ensure that those trampling people under crimes are afraid of them. The fact that the police staff who have upheld these values have been awarded medals is a matter of pride for us,' Patel said.
Saying that Saturday's medal distribution ceremony was different, Patel said that, unlike people getting sporting medals for the achievement of an aim, 'when a police person works, it is not for a medal but the security of society'. 'He works putting his life on the line. He works through day and night, heat and cold, through festivals, just for the peace and safety of the public. After years of service, when it is rewarded with a medal, that is not an individual victory, but the pride of the entire department,' he further said.
Praising the police force for upholding their duties, Patel said that development has got a constant boost in the state due to the peaceful situation. 'Unrest and disharmony have reduced. In the last two decades, the law and order situation has improved to such an extent that violence and rioting have become a thing of the past,' he added.
On more educated personnel being recruited into Gujarat Police, the chief minister said, 'With the rise in technology, catching criminals has become easier. The police department's new tech-savvy manpower has not just increased capacity but its power as well. In the last three recruitment drives, in various cadres, out of 24,000 officers and personnel, 60 per cent have a higher education degree. At least 12,000 have IT and engineering degrees.'
CM Patel addressed the physical fitness of police officials and spoke about the role sports can play. 'Your work is stressful, and there is a lot of burden, which is why it may not be possible to remain physically fit. But sports can make you mentally and physically fit,' he said.
Referring to the World Police and Fire Games taking place in Ahmedabad in 2029, Patel said, 'We hope that you will work towards the goal of having more players from our department to participate in these games.'
