Law Kumar Mishra
Patna, July 14
Senior Superintendent of Police (Patna) and 2009-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Manavjit Singh Dhillon fuelled a massive political outrage in Bihar by comparing Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) with Popular Front of India (PFI).
Talking to media persons after the preliminary investigations of the Phulwari Sharif recovery of PFI documents and flags, Dhillon said the PFI was giving physical training to the Muslim youths in Madrasas and mosques like RSS did in their Shakhas. In Shakas, youths are given physical and martial arts training, trained in use of lathis, in PFI training centres, they are getting training in swordsmanship, Dhillon said, adding in the training centre, PFI was educating on its agenda and propaganda.
The statement created a political furore as the BJP is a coalition partner in Bihar. Comparing RSS with PFI, which Wikipedia claimed is an extremist Islamic organisation, came as a shock for the BJP leaders. Moreover, the police had found links to anti-national activities after apprehending PFI activists in Phulwari Sharif.
The BJP took strong exception to the police officer equating RSS with PFI and asked the government to sack him. Former Union Minister Ravishankar said the government should initiate action against the police officer for speaking against the RSS. He said SSP made an uncharitable comment on working of a cultural organisation like RSS and equated it with the terrorist organisation PFI.
“Dhillon behaved like an irresponsible person,” Ravishankar added.
Manoj Sharma, a former BJP MLA and spokesman of the party said, “Dhillon has lost his mental balance. He should be dismissed from the service.” Arwind Kumar Singh, another spokesman of the party said, “This officer does not know anything about the RSS. He should be removed immediately. This officer is not able to distinguish between a terrorist organisation and RSS.”
Harikirshna Bachoul, BJP MP from Darbhanga asked the government to remove SSP and send him to an RSS shakha for training. Gopal Narain Singh, former MP said SSP should join politics and not remain in police service.
Former Deputy Chief Minister and senior party MP Sushil Kumàr Modi demanded an apology from M S Dhillon for his uncharitable comments on RSS and drawing a parallel between Sangh and PFI. Modi, a hardcore RSS worker since his school days claimed RSS worked for unity of the country and PFI for disunity.
Finding itself in a tight spot, the Bihar police administration swung into a damage control exercise. J S Gangwar, Additional DG (admin) of police sent a show cause notice to senior SSP of Patna seeking his version on controversial statement equating RSS with terrorist organisation PFI. Dhillon has been asked to reply within 24 hours.
