It has been over 17 days now that the police department of Uttar Pradesh has been functioning without a head. Perhaps, it’s the first time this has happened.
Even though an appointment has been made, the officer is yet to assume office. In a state like UP, where the law and order situation is rather uncertain, the acephalous police department points at a larger problem.
While this has caused restlessness and uncertainty in Lucknow, the Centre is unusually tight-lipped about it.
The Yogi Adityanath government appointed OP Singh, a 1983-batch IPS officer and currently the Director General (DG) of the Central Industrial Security Force (CSIF), to the post of UP's DGP after the retirement of Sulkhan Singh on 31 December. However, 17 days after his appointment, it's still not certain when Singh would take over.
A reason being cited for the same is that Singh hasn't been relieved by the CSIF yet, but it is hard to believe that this is actually what has caused the delay, especially because the BJP is in power both at the Centre and in UP.
The chance of the Centre meddling with the decision of one of the BJP's firebrand chief ministers seems highly unlikely.
Was OP Singh Yogi's choice?
The search for the Sulkhan Singh's successor had begun long before his retirement, and there were several names in the running. The top contenders were Rajnikant Mishra, Praveen Kumar Singh and Surya Kumar Shukla, all from the batch of 1982.
Praveen Kumar Singh, reportedly Yogi's first choice, seemed likely to get the position.
OP Singh, who was fifth in the order of seniority, wasn't even in the race, and yet it was he who was chosen. His appointment is an enigma to even Yogi's close aides. However, the fact that Singh is a Thakur might have helped his cause, in all probability.
OP Singh's Rajnath Connection
Singh is believed to have a close connection with Home Minister Rajnath Singh, due to which, after heading the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), he was made the DG of CSIF.
However, his appointment as UP's DGP seems to have irked the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). According to the RSS, appointing another Thakur to the post after Sulkhan Singh might send out a message that the choice was made on the lines of caste.
The matter has now reached the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).
No Green Flag from the Centre
It's rumoured that OP Singh is not being relieved from his post at the CSIF as the central government is not happy with his appointment.
According to sources, Singh wasn't Yogi's choice but was appointed due to the pressure from the organisation. However, as soon as the matter reached BJP President Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it was put on hold.
Shah has been told that Singh has an anti-Dalit image in the state, and that his name is linked to the Mayawati guesthouse scandal. In this case if he takes over the post, it might have a detrimental effect on Dalit support to the BJP, which the party has been after for quite some time now.
Now, the government seems to be looking for a way to delay Singh's joining, and the best option seems to be citing legal obstacles. Any officer deputed with the Centre needs the approval of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) to go back to the home cadre with their term still unfinished. Singh has been unable to get that approval, yet.
However, such procedures are merely legal formalities, especially when the appointment is to such a high post as that of the DGP. In the past there have been several cases when the officers have gotten approval in less than 48 hours.
Anti-Dalit Image and Closeness to Mulayam Singh Yadav
In 1995, when the guesthouse episode with Mayavati took place, Singh was the Senior Superintendent of Police in UP. Four days after the incident, he was suspended by the then Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav. However, after this, the two grew close, and Singh reaped the benefits from time to time.
The post of UP's DGP has been sacrificed to political motives from the very start. Appointments according to caste are nothing new, either. During previous governments also, seniority of the candidates has seldom been taken into consideration.
There were five DGPs under former CM Akhilesh Yadav. Before the elections, the BJP had promised that it would strictly stick to seniority while choosing the head of the police. However, it seems the party too has faltered.
(This article was originally published on Quint Hindi.)
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