Modi writes to PM, complains against Chidambaram

AHMEDABAD: Chief Minister Narendra Modi today shot off a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seeking his direct intervention against Home Minister P Chidambaram for his remarks on Gujarat IPS officers, saying they were aimed at "promoting indiscipline" in the police force.

"Congress-led UPA government is trying to destabilise the democratically-elected government of the state of Gujarat," Modi said in his letter to the Prime Minister.

"Home Minister's (P Chidambaram) comments made yesterday were aimed at promoting indiscipline in the police force of the state," he said.

Modi sought the prime minister's intervention in the matter, saying that those who are making such comments should be told not to do so.

His letter to the prime minister came after Chidambaram's remark yesterday that the Centre could intervene on the issue of IPS officers of Gujarat if the affected officers want so.

"Rules do provide for central government to take certain decisions at certain stages but that stage has to be invoked by the officer concerned. If officer concerned invokes the rule, certainly we will look into it," the Home Minister said.

The Gujarat government has suspended IPS officers Sanjiv Bhatt and charge sheeted another senior officer Rahul Sharma who have spoken against it over the 2002 riots.

"The relationship and power structure between the Centre and the state have been clearly demarcated, which are being violated by such statements. Such blatant remarks by the Home Minister will create deep crisis in the federal fabric of the nation," Modi said in the letter.