Highest police suicides occurred in Karnataka during BJP regime!

Bengaluru, Jul 17: Chief minister Siddaramaiah has reiterated that the BJP was raking up a non-issue in DySP MK Ganapathi's suicide case.

"The maximum number of cop suicides have occurred during the BJP regime. In 2007, there were 24 cases and in 2012, 17 cops ended their lives," he added.

Quoting the Chennai high court judgment, Siddaramaiah termed suicide an "act of cowardice" and said no one should take such a step. He said the action being initiated by the government in the Ganapathi case is based on the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which has been in place since 1860.

More moolah for publicity of schemes: Siddaramaiah said the government is going to increase the allocation and expenditure for publicizing its schemes and achievements in the last three years.

He admitted the budget e armarked for the publicity department was way short of the allocation made by the Arvind Kejriwal government in Delhi and the Centre.

"The AAP government has come to power for the first time hence they are on an overdrive. We are old hands and will take time," he said. He said the main reason he kept the information and public relations portfolio for himself was to ensure more emphasis is given to publicity of government's schemes.