NEW DELHI: Setting the cat among the pigeons, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday urged states to consider what he called the ‘One Nation, One Police Uniform’ policy, a potentially controversial move that is not likely to go down well with non-BJP state governments.
Addressing the Ministry of Home Affairs-led Chintan Shivir on internal security in Faridabad, Modi said, “Take your time. Take five, 50 or even 100 years, but do give this proposal a thought. This would give a single identity to the police.” Under the Constitution, police in general and law and order in particular are state subjects.
Predictably, Opposition-ruled states adversely reacted to Modi’s idea with Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel saying law and order is a state subject, adding that “nowadays central agencies are accompanying paramilitary forces and states’ consent is not being taken”.
Modi said “cooperative federalism is not only the preserve of the Constitution but is also the responsibility of the Centre and the states.” While admitting that law and order is a state subject, Modi said that it was linked with India’s unity and integrity.
In two letters on May 2 and May 24 to state DGPs, the National Security Council Secretariat had asked them to share information on the design and colour of uniforms and caps that the state police forces were using.