New Delhi: Amid opposition from some states,
Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi today said they would take
states` concern into account before finalising the proposed
RPF Amendment Bill.
"Nothing will be done if states do not want it. We will
finalise the draft only after taking the states` consent," he
said.
However, he also made it clear that ensuring security of
passengers and safety of its properties cannot be diluted.
Earlier in the same context Trivedi had said that some
"agencies must take responsibility and accountability."
The RPF Bill aims to give policing powers to RPF
personnel. A number of non-Congress states have opposed the
RPF Bill, saying the Bill would destroy the federal character
of the Constitution as it would empower the RPF with policing
powers.
Trivedi said, "We have got to take all the states into
account. We need to talk to them. I think that the bill will
come to Parliament and it will be debated in Parliament."
Earlier, Trinamool leader and Minister of State for
Tourism Sultan Ahmed made a strong pitch for the proposed RPF
Amendment Bill.
"We want a strong Railway Protection Force for the
safety of passengers and rail property... It is required,"
Ahmed said.
The proposed amendment seeks to do away with the
Government Railway Police (GRP) comprising the police force of
the respective states and entrust more policing powers to the
RPF, a Central force. Orissa, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu have said
the amendment will be an attack on the federal structure.
Railway Ministry had sought states’ opinion on the
amendment in December last year.
PTI
