Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh ticks off officers for not being in uniform

JAIPUR: Union home minister Rajnath Singh, on his first official visit to the state after the Modi government came to power, caught senior police officers off—guard during the 33rd national symposium of heads of police training institutes at Rajasthan Police Academy on Wednesday.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Singh brought up everything, from stories from the Mahabharata to mathematics. However, when he found most senior officers not in uniform, he chided them gently.

"I am happy to see you all, who've come from various parts of the country. But my happiness would've been doubled if you were in uniform," Singh said, turning his face towards the director general of police, Omendra Bhardwaj, and the host director of Rajasthan Police Academy.

It was clear the home minister was stressing on the importance of the uniform. "You should all respect your uniform and love it. I think you all need to work to safeguard the dignity of the uniform," Singh said. "Uniform is honour," he said.

Then Singh said, "You make a common man wear this uniform for a month, and he will learn and start using abusive language." Most cops including DGs, ADGs, IGs from various parts of the country were stunned in a pin—drop silence inside the auditorium.

RPA director BL Soni, explaining why the officers weren't in uniform, said, "Like any police officer, I love wearing the uniform, and have always maintained it during my police service.

However, for this event, which is mainly organised by Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD), there were clear instructions to come in formal civilian clothes and we abided by it as co—host of this event." All of Rajasthan's police brass was present for the event in civilian clothing.