Raj Thackeray attacks IPS officer Vishwas Nangre Patil, raises questions on police impartiality over his open praise of RSS

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray has launched a scathing attack on the newly appointed Nagpur Police Commissioner and senior IPS officer Vishwas Nangre Patil. He questioned the impartiality of Nangre Patil in praising Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) from the public platform and said that if he has so much loyalty towards any organization then he should leave the police service and join RSS or Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

This reaction of Raj Thackeray comes after the video went viral in which 1997 batch IPS officer Vishwas Nangre Patil is seen openly praising RSS and its founder Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar at a regional Hindu conference.

“A police officer’s loyalty should be only to his uniform.”

Raj Thackeray, in his statement released on social media, said that the loyalty of any police officer should be only towards his constitutional obligations and the police department.

He said, “We all thought that Nangre Patil’s khaki uniform was the identity of the police, but now it seems that his khaki matches the old uniform of the Sangh.”

He taunted and said that if he has so much love for RSS then before expressing it publicly he should resign from his post and join politics.

“Resign and join RSS or BJP”

Raj Thackeray said that if Vishwas Nangre Patil wants to publicly express support towards any ideological organization then he should first leave the IPS service.

He sarcastically said that the system of “rehabilitation of favorite officers” has been going on for years, so they will also get a place in politics.

Questions raised on government’s silence

The MNS chief also questioned Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and the state Home Department on whether the government accepts open praise of any political or ideological organization by a serving senior police officer.

He said that if the government does not take action on this, it could set a dangerous example for administrative impartiality.

Example given from 2012 incident

Raj Thackeray also mentioned an incident of 2012 to strengthen his allegations.

He said that during an MNS agitation at that time, a police constable had publicly expressed his opinion in support of the protesters, after which the then government had sent him on compulsory leave.

Raj Thackeray questioned whether the present government would take similar action in the case of Vishwas Nangre Patil or the rules apply only to select people.

Congress has also raised questions

Before Raj Thackeray, Maharashtra Congress has also targeted the government over the statement of Vishwas Nangre Patil.

Congress alleges that this is not just a matter of an officer but an issue related to administrative fairness and constitutional values. The party has demanded the Chief Minister to clarify whether the government considers the support of ideological organizations by serving police officers appropriate.

“Good officers, but maintain institutional decorum”

Raj Thackeray also said that Vishwas Nangre Patil is considered a capable and efficient officer, but he should maintain his institutional dignity by staying away from the influence of political parties and ideological organizations.

He said that if senior administrative officers also lose impartiality then the trust of the general public in government institutions will weaken.