A police officer in uniform was photographed kneeling at the feet of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on the occasion of Guru Purnima at the Gorakhnath temple in Uttar Pradesh, reported NDTV.
The series of photographs shared by police officer Praveen Kumar Singh himself, shows him seeking blessings from the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, who is also the head priest of the Gorakhnath Math. In another photograph, Singh can be seen applying tilak on the chief minister’s forehead while the third shows him garlanding Adityanath, according to NDTV.
Accompanied by a “feeling blessed” status and emoticon, the officer’s Facebook check-in and photographs went viral on social media, after which he had to explain his actions.
I was deployed at the temple for security duty and I went there after completing my work with full dedication, when most of the disciples were seeking blessings. Out of my devotion and after removing my belt, cap and other accessories and covering my head with a handkerchief, I took blessings of Peethadishwar Mahant Yogi Adityanath.Praveen Kumar Singh, Police Officer
He further explained that he was seeking the blessings of Aditynath as the head of the Gorakhnath temple and not in the chief minister's capacity.
"My shirt was wet with sweat and I had not ignored my work. Mahant Yogi sits in the position of a guru on two occasions in the temple – one at the time of Dussehra and other on Guru Purnima. I always pray at the temple for serving the country honestly and with dedication. It was just out of my devotion towards Baba Gorakhnath and nothing else," he explained, reported PTI.
Singh, who later deleted the Facebook post, is posted as the circle officer in the Gorakhnath area of Gorakhpur and his act has triggered a debate on social media, with many asking if his actions are appropriate while wearing his uniform.
‘Is This Allowed for Men in Uniform?’
‘Not Worshiping Yogi, Rather Paying Respect’
While some criticised his actions, others felt that it wasn’t inappropriate.
According to PTI, Amitabh Thakur, Inspector General (Civil Defence) said the police manual is not very clear on this count.
"This is a grey area and can be interpreted either way. But, a police officer needs to uphold the dignity of his uniform."
(With inputs from PTI and NDTV.)
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