Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday shot off a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, complaining against Home Minister P Chidambaram's comment on the issue of IPS officers, alleging that the United Progressive Alliance government was trying to destabilise his government.
"The Congress-led UPA government is trying to destabilise the democratically elected government of the state of Gujarat," Modi said in the letter written to the prime minister.
"Home Minister's (P Chidambaram) comments made yesterday were aimed at promoting indiscipline in the police force of the state," Modi said.
Modi has sought the prime minister's intervention in the matter, saying that those who are making such comments should be told not to do so.
'Remarks by the home minister will create deep crisis'
His letter to the prime minister comes in the wake of Chidambaram's remark on Friday that the Centre could intervene on the issue of IPS officers of Gujarat if the affected officers wants it to.
"Rules do provide for the central government to take certain decisions at certain stages but that stage has to be invoked by the officer concerned. If the officer concerned invokes the rule, certainly we will look into it," the home minister had said.
The Gujarat government has suspended IPS officers Sanjiv Bhatt and charge-sheeted another senior officer Rahul Sharma. Both police officers had spoken up against the Modi government over the 2002 riots.
"The relationship and power structure between the Centre and the state have been clearly demarcated, which are being violated by such statements. Such blatant remarks by the home minister will create deep crisis in the federal fabric of the nation," Modi said in the letter.
"Apart from the home minister, many other ministers have also commented on issues on similar lines," he pointed out.
Modi complains to PM about Chidambaram
"Regarding the home minister's comment, I would like to draw your attention that the All India Services Rules are very clear about the issue," the Gujarat chief minister said.
"These police officials come in state cadre and their affairs are concerned with the state government. As per the All India Services Rules, the state government has the right to take actions like suspension, departmental inquires and punitive actions against erring officials," Modi asserted.
This right (of taking actions against IPS officers) has been given to the state government under the federal structure by the All India Service Rules, he wrote.
Neither the central government nor any other authority can subvert this right of the state government, Modi pointed out.
"The service rules also provide that such officers can approach the Central dministrative Tribunal, the high court or the Supreme Court," Modi said.
'It is surprising that the Centre is favouring these officials'
"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," he said.
"Senior police officials are expected to maintain high standards when they are entrusted with the responsibility of maintaining discipline in the society. It is surprising that the Centre is favouring an official (Bhatt) who was absent for the last 10 months," Modi wrote in the letter.
It should be an issue of concern for the entire country that the central government is coming out in support of officials who have committed indiscipline and are breaking rules, the chief minister said.
"In other words it means that they (IPS officers) are being encouraged for political activity by the Centre," he said.
Modi has requested the prime minister to intervene in the matter to ensure a healthy relationship between the state and the Centre and to ensure that such incidents are not repeated.
IPS officer Bhatt, who has alleged Modi's complicity in the post-Godhra riots, was suspended on August 8 for "acts of indiscipline".
The Gujarat government on Saturday charge-sheeted another senior officer Rahul Sharma for alleged misconduct in not submitting the original CDs containing mobile phone call records related to the riots to investigating officers.
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