Gandhinagar, 13 August, 2011

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has sent a letter to Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh protesting against central Home minister P.Chidambaram’s remark hinting central government’s possible intervention in Gujarat affairs in connection with the issue pertaining to action against in-disciplined IPS officers.

According to sources, Modi in his letter said that such blatant statements by central minister will destroy the very fabric of federal structure. As per the All India Service Act rules, IPS officers come under state cadre and their duty is an issue of state. The state government can take action against officers for in-disciplin as per the service act, and the central government can not intervene. If some official has issue with the action taken by the state he/she can go to CAT or High Court and even Supreme Court.

Meanwhile the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also hit out at Home Minister P. Chidambaram for his statement and alleged that the central government was ‘supporting delinquent officers’.

‘Instead of strengthening effective policing, the home minister is supporting those who are spreading disaffection,’ BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman told reporters in New Delhi.

She said the move could impact the federal structure of the country.

The state government recently suspended Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Sanjiv Bhatt, who was absent on job for last 10 months and not responding. Rahul Sharma, another DIG, was issued a show cause notice for retaining important government records with him in unauthorized way and using them as per his whim.

Major points of Modi’s letter

-Congress-led UPA government is trying to destabilise the democratically elected government of the state of Gujarat

-Home Minister’s (P Chidambaram) comments made yesterday were aimed at promoting indiscipline in the police force of the state.

-Those who are making such comments should be told not to do so.

-Some other senior ministers of the union cabinet have also made similar statements before the media. These statements are strictly against the centre-state relationship protocol and a dangerous threat to the federal set-up of Indian governance.

-When the Union Government supports such indisciplined conduct of an All India Service Officer, then it should be a matter of concern for the entire nation. In other words, one is indirectly encouraging the political activities by service officers. Such blatant interference from central government will destroy the very fabric of federal structure.

-Series of such incidents during last two years” seemed to indicate “a definite pattern of conspiracy in meddling with Gujarat’s affairs

-The central government cannot intervene in the cases that fall under the jurisdiction of the state.

-The police officers are to discipline the society and in discharge of their duties they are supposed to set up high standards. It is surprising that an officer who was absent from duty continuously for 10 months unauthorisedly is being defended by the Union Government. Any misconduct, dereliction of duty and recalcitrant behaviour of the officers cannot be tolerated, failing which it will lead to anarchy in government

-Regarding the concerned officials (Bhatt and Sharma), preliminary enquiries were conducted, and they were given enough time to explain their acts of indiscipline as per administrative rules.

-Senior police officials are expected to maintain high standards when they are entrusted with responsibility of maintaining discipline in the society. It is surprising that Centre is favouring an official (Bhatt) who was absent for the last 10 months,

-In other words it means that they (IPS officers) are being encouraged for political activity by the Centre.