Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Jun 28: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Saturday criticised IPS officer Vishwas Nangre Patil for praising the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on an RSS platform and questioned the state government over the issue of an officer’s “dual loyalty”.

In a social media post, Thackeray said that if an officer has affection for the organisation, it should remain personal or the officer should resign from service before openly joining the RSS or BJP.

“If you feel affection for the Sangh, keep it in your heart, or if you want to speak about it publicly, then resign from service and join the Sangh or the BJP,” Thackeray said.

He also took a dig at what he described as a “rehabilitation guarantee scheme” for officers who leave government service and enter politics.

Thackeray warned Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis that similar situations could arise in the future and said political neutrality of government officers should be maintained.

“Tomorrow, if after you’re out of power, some officer attends an event of another organisation, don’t then raise a hue and cry,” he said.

He also referred to a previous incident after the 2012 Azad Maidan riots in Mumbai, alleging that the state government had sent a police constable on forced leave for supporting a police-related agitation after the violence, during which some policemen were assaulted and the Amar Jawan memorial was vandalised.