Don’t abuse police to wage political battles: Dr JP

Hyderabad, Nov 14 : Lok Satta Party national President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan has counseled the UPA Government against using police for waging political battles.

In a media statement here on Thursday, Dr. JP referred to Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde ordering an investigation into funding for the Aam Aadmi Party and said “such selective investigation is bizarre and lacks credibility” considering that traditional parties spend billions of rupees of unaccounted money on vote buying. “Harassing a movement for clean politics is absurd and will deter reformers.” The Congress has to introspect whether politics is about status quo or change for the better.

Dr. JP said the Prime Minister is both right and wrong in his remarks on the CBI on its anniversary. “The CBI cannot second-guess policy but it cannot be the Government’s poodle either.” Some of CBI’s actions like registering an FIR against retired Coal Secretary P. C. Parakh for allocating a coal block to Hindalco exceed their brief and smack of recklessness. “Criminalizing bona fide actions is plain wrong.”

Dr. JP said the CBI should concern itself about bribery, fraud and mala fide actions. It has no business to supervise the Government or review its policies. That is Parliament’s prerogative.

The Prime Minister is, however, wrong in saying investigation and prosecution should be under the executive. The rule of law should apply to all equally. Investigation and prosecution should be autonomous, but accountable to a strong, credible body. Or else police become the Government’s private force. “But we cannot allow the police to run amok. There should be strong safeguards and accountability. Rogue police is worse than Government control,” he said. INN