New Delhi: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra
Modi on Tuesday accused the CBI of "castigating" the state`s law
and order situation and "despising" elected members and the
state government.
Modi said reduction in incidence of crime as well as
better law and order and communal situation in the state
suggested overall peaceful and congenial atmosphere. He said
such facts could be ascertained from the National Crime Record
Bureau reports.
"However, as reported in the media, organisations like
the CBI have been castigating the state`s law and order
situation, making observation about highly communalised
atmosphere and despising democratically elected members and
state government," he said in his address at the internal
security conference of chief ministers here.
Modi said Gujarat is being "targeted" and "singled out"
which does not augur well for the federal structure of
governance.
On the issue of police reforms, the Chief Minister said
the Supreme Court order in Prakash Singh Vs Union of India
would lead to "creation of new power centres" in the forms of
Security Commission and Police Complaints Authority which may
become difficult to be handled even by the judiciary.
He said police administration and law order were state
subjects under the Constitution and that state legislatures
were competent to make appropriate laws in this regard. Modi
said model acts circulated by the Centre were welcome for
ensuring uniform policies across the country.
"However, in our constitutional frame work where federal
structure has been adopted and separation of power is hallmark
of a vibrant governance system in a democracy, directions as
given in aforesaid order of the Honourable Supreme Court
will upset the scheme of governance and police
administration," he said.
Modi asked the Centre to urge the apex court to allow
states to enact appropriate laws.
He also lamented the Centre`s "poor response" to
suggestions made during previous Chief Ministers` conferences
on internal security.
"I am constrained to mention that even after lot of
deliberation held in this august body every year, policy
issues discussed in earlier conferences are not being
addressed meaningfully and effectively," Modi said.
PTI
