It wasn’t just the state government that was upset by a TV news channel’s leak of the Ram Pradhan committee report on the response of the authorities to the 26/11 attack. Leader of the opposition Eknath Khadse, too, was taken aback.
The BJP leader had planned to put the government on the back foot by placing the report before the house on the first day of the winter session of the state legislature. Now, he is set to lead the opposition charge on various issues relating to the home ministry.
The opposition will demand that Pradhan’s report be tabled in the house, raise questions about the rift among top police officers, and flay home minister RR Patil for his inept handling of the crisis.
In an interview with DNA, Khadse warns that the crisis of confidence in the police is not a good thing for a state that is still facing a terrorist threat. Excerpts:
Do you still want the Pradhan committee report to be tabled?
I had planned to present it in the assembly on the first day of the winter session on Tuesday. I got hold of the report eight days ago, but it was leaked by some channels thereafter.
I still want the report to be tabled and a discussion to be held in the assembly. This would be in the public interest and even the interest of the police, which has been struggling with infighting and suspicion.
Not just the police, the government, too, is in a confused state of mind over the mess. Chief minister Chavan is pointing a finger at RR Patil, who has not made enough efforts to resolve the problem in the force and take the upset officers into confidence.
But hasn’t the Pradhan committee report already been leaked...
Yes, but if it is put on record, we will get an opportunity to discuss and debate its findings. I have read the report and don’t think there is anything that would lead to a law-and-order situation as claimed by the government.
Secondly, the committee’s report has not thrown light on many questions and doubts that still linger in the minds of the people who witnessed the terror drama for nearly 60 hours on their TV screens. The committee had its ownlimitations as it was not a legal entity that could have summoned officers for testimony. In that sense it cannot be called a comprehensive report.
Will the divisions in the police could cause a threat to security?
There is no firm leadership that the upset officers can look up to. You don’t have a director-general of police and the acting DGP cannot deal with the crisis. Home minister Patil did not even try to initiate talks with the officers mired in the controversy. There is no outlet left for the officers to vent their feelings. It is a complete mess and it’s not good for a state that is still facing a threat of terrorism.
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