‘Tell us’, Chidambaram tells police chiefs!

NEW DELHI - Home Minister P. Chidambaram switched to “tell us” mode Wednesday, posing probing questions to state police chiefs on the issue of modernising their forces.

He used the phrase “tell us” at least half a dozen times in his opening address to the 45th annual police chiefs’ meet here.

“You will recall that at the last meeting, I had raised some questions that were considered at that time quite provocative,” said Chidambaram. “On reflection, most people agreed that those questions deserved to be raised and deserved to be answered.”

“Therefore, I hope you will tell us whether you have succeeded in ensuring that every police officer, appointed to a post, has a reasonable tenure in that post,” he asked.

“I hope you will also tell us whether your governments have increased, in real terms, the allocation under the head ‘Police’,” said Chidambaram.

Referring to home ministry’s advice to various states to recruit 150,000 police personnel by September 2010, Chidambaram said: “I hope you would be able to tell us how close you are to achieving that goal.”

“We also recommended that states adopt the Transparent Recruitment Process (TRP) and I hope you will tell us whether you have done so,” he said.

“Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) is an important project that will enhance the efficiency of policing in your states. I hope you would tell us the progress you have made and the difficulties, if any, you face,” Chidambaram demanded.

“And finally I hope you would be able to tell us what steps have been taken in your states to enact a new Police Act based on the model bill that was circulated to the states and what steps have been taken to set up the State Police Establishment Board and the Police Complaints Board,” he asked.