After the Opposition leaders expressed concern over the Maharashtra government’s proposal to hire ‘contractual personnel’ for the Mumbai Police, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis informed the Assembly on Wednesday that police personnel will not be taken on contract.
“I will give a detailed statement on the matter,” said Mr. Fadnavis, who also holds the Home Department portfolio.
To address the shortage of constables in the city police, the Maharashtra government has approved the outsourcing of 3,000 personnel from the Maharashtra State Security Corporation (MSSC), a public sector undertaking of the State Police and issued an order to this effect on Monday.
Raising the issue in the House, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee president Nana Patole said that the State government was recruiting police personnel on a contract basis and the Ministers in the current dispensation are also on ‘contract’. “You (Shinde-Fadnavis-Ajit Pawar government) are recruiting police personnel on a contract basis. Your ministers are also on contract. When they take a briefing (from officials), they twist answers which is why questions take time to be answered. Give pointed replies.”
Replying to Mr. Patole’s allegations, the Home Minister said that no ministers are on contract and in case the former want to come (join the ruling parties), they would think about it. “If you want to come on contract then we will think about it. Nowhere are police personnel taken on contract and it will not be done. I will give a detailed statement on it,” he said.
Later speaking in the Upper House, Mr. Fadnavis said the Mumbai police have sought 3,000 personnel from the MSSC to tide over paucity of manpower.
“There is a shortage of around 10,000 personnel in the Mumbai police force and the country’s financial capital cannot be safeguarded adequately with this shortfall. Personnel sought from MSSC will be used for providing security, guard-related duties and other static tasks.
They will not be given any work related to investigation or implementation of law and order. There is no contractual hiring of police.... no such proposal is under consideration,” he said.
According to him, the Mumbai police force has 10,000 vacant posts and every year 1,500 personnel retire from service, and there had been no recruitment in 2019, 2020 and 2021.
“Moreover, around 500 cops have succumbed to COVID-19,” Mr. Fadnavis said.
On Tuesday, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, Ambadas Danve, raised the issue in the Upper House, asserting that the control of the police should remain under the State government’s purview. He went on to draw parallels to a recent incident involving the Wagner Group, a Russian private military force that witnessed a “rebellion against President Vladimir Putin” in June. “It’s dangerous and risky. Contractual cops in the Mumbai Police force could lead to a Wagner Group-like situation,” Mr. Danve said.
In the Assembly, NCP MLA of Sharad Pawar faction Rohit Pawar expressed concern about Telangana police entering Osmanabad district without proper documentation and intimidating local goldsmiths with false accusations of handling stolen goods.
“Even more alarming, they are reported to be threatening and accepting bribes from the goldsmiths before returning to Telangana in private vehicles,” Mr. Rohit informed the House, requesting Mr. Fadnavis to take immediate action on this pressing matter.
Published - July 26, 2023 05:04 pm IST
