CM Siddaramaiah’s Address on ‘Drug-Free Karnataka’

By Editor

Posted on October 29, 2025

397

CM Siddaramaiah's Address on 'Drug-Free Karnataka'

Bengaluru : Chief Minister Siddaramaiah recently addressed the state police department at an event where he distributed the new ‘Peak Cap’ to police personnel, inaugurated the Anti-Narcotics Task Force, and released the ‘Sanmitra’ action plan handbook. He set a clear, ambitious goal for the force, proclaiming, “Drug-Free Karnataka is my goal. Let this be your goal too: Achieve and demonstrate it.” He stressed the critical need for the police to adopt a firm, committed stance against narcotics, ensuring that the vitality and potential of the state’s students and youth are not destroyed by drugs. The Chief Minister believed that if the police succeeded in this mission, the people of Karnataka would offer their deepest gratitude to the entire department.

Challenge to Police Integrity and Performance
The CM highlighted the recent success in controlling the situation in the Dakshina Kannada district, which had seen an increase in communal clashes and moral policing. He attributed the current stability to the proactive changes made in officer postings, noting, “These are your people, our people; therefore, if you put your mind to it, everything is possible. Achieve and demonstrate it.” He extended this challenge to tackling the drug menace across the state, asserting that such an accomplishment would significantly boost the international prestige of the Karnataka Police. However, he also delivered a sharp critique, pointing out that some police personnel might be colluding with real estate actors and drug networks. He urged the officers and staff to introspect, asking why the criminal world’s fear of the police had diminished, and reminded them that they already possessed all the necessary information about who is selling, transporting, and managing the drug network. He challenged them to work swiftly to make the state entirely “Drug-Free Karnataka.”

New Cap, New Efficiency
Speaking about the newly distributed uniform, the Chief Minister mentioned that he personally selected the pattern for the new ‘Peak Cap,’ which replaces a single model that had been in use for nearly 70 years since 1956. While expressing hope that the new uniform would boost the self-confidence of the police, he immediately tempered this by saying, “Not only should the cap change, but your efficiency should change too.” He concluded by expressing immense satisfaction that the police department’s efficiency reflects well on the government, and proudly highlighted the India Justice Report, which ranked the Karnataka Police as Number One, thereby enhancing the state’s honour.