UP officers use Bhagat Singh, Buddha to discuss justice, force

Two senior Uttar Pradesh officers used their Independence Day addresses to reflect on public service and accountability. Rinkoo Singh Rahee, SDM (judicial) in Orai, called Bhagat Singh 'the most foolish' to highlight how his sacrifices contrast with today's priorities, including a 30-year-old pending case that made him 'feel ashamed'. In Meerut, SSP Avinash Pandey narrated a story from Gautama Buddha's life to explain that the police's use of force is meant to maintain peace, and that with greater power comes greater responsibility.

The Times of India reports both speeches. Rahee, a 2023-batch IAS officer, argued that delays in justice betray the ideals of freedom fighters. Pandey, a 2015-batch IPS officer, asked personnel to reflect on their oath and warned against divisions based on caste, religion, and language. He said duty goes beyond collecting a salary.