Modi writes to PM, complains against Chidambaram

Ahmedabad, Aug 13 (PTI) Western Indian state Gujarat
Chief Minister Narendra Modi Saturday shot off a letter to
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seeking his direct intervention
against Home Minister P Chidambaram for his remarks on Gujarat
Indian Police Service(IPS) officers, saying they were aimed at
"promoting indiscipline" in the police force.
"Congress-led UPA government is trying to destabilise the
democratically-elected government of the state of Gujarat,"
Modi said in his letter to the Prime Minister.
"Home Minister's (P Chidambaram) comments made yesterday
were aimed at promoting indiscipline in the police force of
the state," he said.
Modi sought the prime minister's intervention in the
matter, saying that those who are making such comments should
be told not to do so.
His letter to the prime minister came after Chidambaram's
remark Friday that the Centre could intervene on the issue
of IPS officers of Gujarat if the affected officers want so.
"Rules do provide for central government to take certain
decisions at certain stages but that stage has to be invoked
by the officer concerned. If officer concerned invokes the
rule, certainly we will look into it," the Home Minister said.
The Gujarat government has suspended IPS officers Sanjiv
Bhatt and charge sheeted another senior officer Rahul Sharma
who have spoken against it 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.

"Looking at the series of such incidents during last two
years, I regret to bring to your notice that there seems to be
a definite pattern of conspiracy in meddling with Gujarat’s
affairs. Such selective interference is a cause for major
concern, as it goes against constitutional principles," Modi
said.
"Unfortunately, it appears that UPA government at the
Centre is a party to these activities, in one way or other,
with a strong hidden agenda to destabilize a progressive and
performing State like Gujarat. I firmly believe that you
cannot build a strong India by destabilizing and weakening
progressive and development-oriented States in a federal
structure. At any cost, we should not convert these
constitutional arms as political battle-fields by misusing
them," he said.
"Apart from the Home Minister, many other ministers have
also commented on the issues on similar lines," he pointed
out.
"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 service rules, the state government has the right to
take actions like suspension, departmental inquires and
punitive actions against erring officials," Modi asserted.
This right 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 Central Administrative Tribunal, High Court or
Supreme Court," Modi further said.