Shimla: Himachal Pradesh chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Friday strongly criticised a Feb 25 operation carried out by the Delhi police, during which three Youth Congress members were arrested from a resort in Rohru of Shimla district in connection with a shirtless protest at the AI Summit. He emphasised that constitutional norms and the sovereignty of the state must be respected at all times.Sukhu questioned why the BJP continues to oppose the state govt on every issue, including matters related to law enforcement and the demand to continue the revenue deficit grant (RDG) by the Centre. He asserted that the Himachal police has been functioning effectively and responsibly. The joint operation by the Delhi and Haryana Police had culminated into a dramatic confrontation with the Himachal Pradesh Police that went viral on social media. The chief minister, while interacting with media persons, emphasised that under the Constitution, every state has defined rights and powers, and Himachal Pradesh has its own sovereignty. He stated that if any external police agency intended to take an individual from the state, it must inform the local police stations in accordance with the Supreme Court’s standard operating procedure (SOP). He said it was inappropriate for Delhi Police personnel arriving without uniform to detain someone from Himachal Pradesh without notifying either the local police or the public. He added that transit remand documents should have been shown by the Delhi Police and proper coordination maintained.Sukhu also remarked that prior intimation to the state DGP could have avoided the controversy. He also said the former chief minister and the present leader of opposition, Jai Ram Thakur, should acknowledge that due information ought to have been provided before such action; otherwise, what is the role of the local police if outside forces act independently. MSID: 128847186 413 |
