CM Arvind Kejriwal inducted Bhaskar Rao into AAP by presenting him with AAPs cap and patka

With the phenomenal victory of the Aam Aadmi Party in Punjab, people across the country have developed great confidence in AAP and its credibility to win elections in other states. People across Karnataka have started placing their hopes and aspirations in the Aam Aadmi Party. On this occasion, AAP National Convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal stated – AAP is not a political party, but a movement. Only when people join our movement and work together for the progress of our society will we be able to take our nation ahead. I am confident that Bhaskar Rao will prove to be an asset to AAP and will strengthen its foothold in not just Karnataka, but the entire country. A well-connected leader like Shri Bhaskar Rao, who is already familiar with issues faced by the people of Karnataka, is an important addition to AAP’s movement in the state. Senior AAP Leader and Delhi Deputy CM Shri Manish Sisodia added – Work done by AAP governments in Delhi and now Punjab is being praised all over the country and it is sending a new wave of energy and hope across the nation. Popular as ‘People’s Commissioner’, Bhaskar Rao supported the people of Karnataka during the COVID crisis, and he will help AAP strengthen its roots in Karnataka now. Those who feel that current governments have dismissed education, employment, public welfare, and development, and want to work for the public, should join AAP to take this work forward. At the same time, Shri Bhaskar Rao said that he would often visit Delhi while working as an IPS Officer – one of his trips included a visit to a government school, and after seeing the impressive transformation, he made up his mind to join AAP’s movement, the politics for change.

As a big boost to Karnataka politics, people’s favourite former Bengaluru Police Commissioner Bhaskar Rao joined the Aam Aadmi Party on Sunday. He was welcomed by AAP National Convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal. AAP National Convenor Shri Arvind Kejriwal welcomed Bhaskar Rao to AAP and felicitated him with cap and patka. Senior Leader and Delhi Deputy CM Shri Manish Sisodia, Karnataka Convenor Shri Prithvi Reddy, and Karnataka In-Charge Shri Dilip Pandey felicitated the new members who joined AAP at a huge scale along with Shri Rao at an event held at the party headquarters. During this, Shri Arvind Kejriwal congratulated former IPS officer Bhaskar Rao on joining the party and wished him success in working with full sincerity and dedication for the development of the entire country, including Karnataka.

*AAP is not simply a political party, but a movement for the people: Arvind Kejriwal*

Welcoming Shri Bhaskar Rao to the AAP family, Shri Arvind Kejriwal said, “Today is a very blessed and important day for the Aam Aadmi Party that an eminent personality like Shri Bhaskar Rao is joining our family. AAP is not simply a political party, but a movement for the people. We believe that only when great people working for the progress of our society come together and join the Aam Aadmi Party’s movement, only then will we be able to take our nation ahead. So I am delighted to welcome Shri Bhaskar Rao to the Aam Aadmi Party today, and I am confident that he will prove to be an asset to our family and will strengthen AAP’s foothold in not just Karnataka, but the entire country.”

*Those who feel that current governments dismissed education, employment, public welfare, and development, and want to work for the public, should join AAP to take this work forward: Manish Sisodia*

On the occasion, AAP Senior Leader and Delhi Deputy CM Shri Manish Sisodia said, “The Aam Aadmi Party has made significant progress over the years in Delhi. The image of the AAP Government has emerged in the form of the unique Kejriwal Model of Governance across the country, a glimpse of the influence of which was seen in the recent elections in Punjab. After AAP’s landslide victory in Punjab, and the well-established government in Delhi, the development work done by the Aam Aadmi Party is being praised all over the country, which is sending a new wave of energy across the nation. On the day that AAP attained victory in Punjab, National Convenor of AAP Shri Arvind Kejriwal had invoked people from all over India – that every corner of the country where people want to work for national progress, where they are fed up of political parties not delivering in the sectors of education, healthcare, employment, and general welfare and development of their communities – they must come forward and join the Aam Aadmi Party to fulfil these administrative duties themselves. Now the wave of this people-oriented politics and governance has taken over the nation, and I am delighted that AAP is gaining momentum in the southern states of India as well.”

*During the COVID crisis, Bhaskar Rao took charge of public health and welfare along with his police work: Manish Sisodia*

He continued, “Today, our team from Karnataka is present with us to welcome Shri Bhaskar Rao to our party, who has retired from his post of Senior IPS Officer. While serving his post as IPS Officer, Shri Bhaskar Rao had paid several visits to Delhi and witnessed the work that the AAP Government has done in the national capital. These visits, which included seeing Delhi’s government schools, inspired him to believe that the Kejriwal Model of Governance should be implemented all over the country, and that this is the ideal form of politics that we should aspire to. After Shri Arvind Kejriwal’s invocation after the Punjab elections, he left his job as an IPS Officer to join the Aam Aadmi Party. Right before his early retirement, he was the Police Commissioner of Bengaluru, a post he served through the COVID crisis. During the pandemic, when the state government and political parties failed to protect their people, to ensure a proper healthcare system, he stepped up to take the task upon himself on an individual level and took charge of social welfare. Taking help from his police force, he placed the onus on himself to fulfil all the duties which were expected to be taken up by the state government – meeting the medicinal, oxygen, food, and other needs of the people. Keeping his entire career in mind, and especially the kind of work he did during the COVID crisis to help his people, people renamed him from being the Police Commissioner to ‘People’s Commissioner’. I extend my deepest gratitude to Shri Bhaskar Rao for his service, and at the same time encourage all those dedicated to serving their nation – who feel connected to the public, and believe that they have the capability to work for our country’s development – to come forward and join the Aam Aadmi Party, and thereby earn a platform to work for the people.”

*People in Karnataka are in dire need for a new direction; are ready to welcome the change that AAP brings: Prithvi Reddy*

AAP Karnataka Convenor Shri Prithvi Reddy added, “The change that we all seek will come only when enough local people join AAP’s movement – hence, we are deeply delighted to see that it is gathering momentum across the country. More and more people across Karnataka are now ready to welcome the change, as they have totally given up on the traditional politics of the BJP, Congress, and JDS. Short-term governments are doing no good to the people of the state. Karnataka is a large state, and setting a new direction for its progress will be possible only when more accomplished and like-minded people join the Aam Aadmi Party.”

*Kejriwal model of governance should not be limited to Delhi; it should be extended to Karnataka as well: Bhaskar Rao*

On being welcomed to the Aam Aadmi Party, Shri Bhaskar Rao said, “Whenever I would visit Delhi, I would closely experience the kind of development that took place over the last few years. I was pleasantly surprised to see the kind of improvements in the schools, and found it almost unbelievable that government schools can also have such splendid facilities. The people also took me to visit the Mohalla Clinic in the neighbourhood. Seeing all this great work which was done by the AAP Government in education, health, and in ensuring a sense of security for the common people, I was thoroughly impressed. I am also deeply inspired by Shri Arvind Kejriwal’s life trajectory, his political rise and the obstacles he has overcome. AAP has changed the political landscape of the country – and we have witnessed that it always represents progress, transparent and corruption-free administration, and decentralisation. Punjab recognised this and brought the AAP government in with a majority win. The common people in Karnataka also wish for a change, because they are fed up with the traditional parties – people change, but the system stays the same. The Aam Aadmi Party promises to change the system. This is the kind of governance that is needed all over the country. Karnataka is the most progress-oriented state in India, but there is plenty of scope for improvement in its administration. We wish to make sure that the people of Karnataka win above all else, to bring about a change in their lives. We will now get ahead with the motto of 'Baatein Kam Kaam Zyada', our work will speak for itself as it has for Shri Arvind Kejriwal in Delhi. Ensuring Development, Strengthening the Aam Aadmi, Upholding the Values of the Nation and the Constitution are the cornerstones of the Aam Aadmi Party under the leadership of Shri Arvind Kejriwal. I am very thankful to him for considering me fit for the party. We will all work like soldiers under a general and drive the party to success.”

*About former IPS Officer Bhaskar Rao:*

Shri Bhaskar Rao is an Indian Police Service officer of 1990 Batch and allotted to Karnataka Cadre. Since then, he has held several positions as Superintendent of Police and Deputy Commissioner of Police in Mandya, Davanagere, Shimoga, Hubli-Dharwad City, Kodagu, Bangalore City and Bangalore Rural District. Shri Bhaskar Rao was closely associated with protection of Foreign Companies in the aftermath of 09/11 attacks in the USA while he was Superintendent of Police, Bangalore Rural District. He worked as Managing Director, (KEONICS) of Karnataka State Electronics Development Corporation Limited where several innovative schemes were started. Bhaskar Rao was also Director, Operations in KSRTC at a time when the organisation was metamorphosing into a corporate organisation like Induction of Volvo Buses, Electronic Ticketing Machines, Biofuels, New Software for Depot Computerization and Booking of Tickets and Commuter Relation.

He served as Transport Commissioner, Government of Karnataka during which time revenue collections increased two-fold, infrastructure expanded and the ICI personnel were reskilled, Licence and Vehicle Registration was made Online and Chip based Smart Cards started being issued instead of Licence books and R.C books. As Inspector General of Police, Internal Security, he was instrumental in creating Karnataka State Industrial Security Force and laying the foundation to streamline and strengthen 4.60 Lacs Private Security Personnel and 1500 Private Security Agencies all over Karnataka. Under his leadership, the Coastal Security Police was strengthened by having excellent collaboration with the Indian Navy, Coast-Guard and Goa Shipyard.

Bhaskar Rao also served as Commissioner of Police, Mysore City, Inspector General of Police of several Verticals like Anti-Terror, Central Range, Railways, Training, Forest, Commissioner of Police, Belgaum City and Northern Range. Bhaskar Rao was Additional Director General of Police, Karnataka State Reserve Police overseeing 12 Battalions and 2 Battalions of India Reserve Police Battalion & he also served as the Bangalore City Police Commissioner in the year of 2019-2020 during the Pandemic period. He was Additional Director General of Police, Internal Security Division and Karnataka Railway Police. Notably, Shri Bhaskar Rao holds many accolades for his service to people and delivering excellence in his work. This includes the President's Police Medal for Meritorious Service - 2008, President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service - 2015, United Nations Medal for the Services Rendered in International Peacekeeping in War Zone, Kosovo, Yugoslavia- 2000. Innovation, change, dynamism and strengthening and empowering the bottom of the pyramid are his professional management passion.