Congress seeks probe into IPS officer Vishwas Nangare Patil's speech at RSS event
The Congress in Maharashtra has sought an inquiry into a speech by IPS officer Vishwas Nangare Patil at a Hindu Sakal Samaj event, saying his
The Congress in Maharashtra has sought an inquiry into a speech by IPS officer Vishwas Nangare Patil at a Hindu Sakal Samaj event, saying his remarks about the RSS raise questions about his neutrality and compliance with service rules. The demand came after an undated video of Nangare Patil's speech at the Hindu Sammelan organised by the Sakal Hindu Samaj went viral on Thursday. The officer was appointed Nagpur police commissioner earlier this week. Read Full Story In a post on X, the opposition party asked Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds the home portfolio, to clarify whether Nangare Patil had obtained prior permission before taking part in the event.
Citing the All India Services (Conduct) Rules, the Congress said an IPS officer must obtain prior government approval before participating in such a programme. It asked whether the officer had secured such permission and, if not, whether the government would initiate action against him. The party also said the officer's speech 'praising' the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Hindutva and RSS founder KB Hedgewar raised questions about adherence to rules requiring members of the All India Services to maintain political neutrality and conduct themselves in a manner befitting their office.
It cited provisions that bar members of the service from being associated with organisations that take part in politics, and asked whether addressing and praising a particular ideological organisation from its platform amounted to such an association. The Congress said the matter was not limited to an individual officer, but concerned the credibility of the civil services, the constitutional principle of political neutrality and public confidence in the police administration. In another post, it said the role of the police is to maintain law and order and not glorify organisations accused of promoting social division.
Referring to Nangare Patil's transfer to Nagpur, the party said it gave him an opportunity to 'directly serve those he is trying to please', in an apparent reference to the RSS headquarters in the city. Overall, the party has asked the Maharashtra government to clarify whether rules were followed and whether any action will be taken. Ends
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