Sat Mar 15 16:40:22 UTC 2025: **Rajasthan Police Boycott Holi Over Unmet Demands**
Jaipur, Rajasthan – Rajasthan Police personnel in several districts staged a partial boycott of Holi celebrations on Saturday to protest unmet demands for promotions and salary adjustments. While celebrations proceeded in some areas, participation was significantly lower than usual, with many officers choosing to abstain from the traditional post-Dhulandi festivities.
The boycott, impacting police lines in major cities like Jaipur, Jodhpur, and Udaipur, highlights simmering discontent within the force. Police officers cited delays in Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) meetings, resulting in stalled promotions, and discrepancies in salary, including insufficient mess allowances, as key grievances.
Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot appealed to current Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma to intervene and address the police officers’ concerns immediately. He emphasized the importance of resolving the issues to allow officers to participate fully in the Holi festivities. His sentiment was echoed by Cabinet Minister Kirodi Lal Meena, who pledged to raise the matter with the government and urged officers to celebrate the festival.
Despite the boycott in some regions, Holi celebrations did continue in certain districts including Kota, Bharatpur, Pali, Sawai Madhopur, and Bhilwara, where officers participated alongside senior officials. However, even in these locations, participation remained below typical levels.
The protest underscores the urgency of the situation and the impact of unresolved demands on morale within the Rajasthan Police force. The government’s response to this demonstration of discontent will be closely watched.
First Piper 