Raj Thackeray Criticises IPS Officer For Public Remarks On RSS Praise

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Saturday launched a sharp attack on senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer and newly appointed Nagpur Police Commissioner Vishwas Nangre Patil, accusing him of compromising the neutrality of the civil services after he publicly praised the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The remarks have sparked a fresh political controversy over the boundaries of expression for serving police officials.

The issue erupted after a video surfaced showing the 1997-batch IPS officer addressing a regional Hindu Sammelan, where he reportedly spoke positively about the RSS and its founder Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, describing him as a farsighted nationalist. The comments quickly gained traction on social media, drawing criticism from political leaders who questioned whether a serving senior police officer should make such public ideological statements.

Reacting strongly, Raj Thackeray questioned the officer’s “dual loyalty” and said that a police officer’s duty must remain strictly aligned with constitutional responsibilities and institutional neutrality. He argued that public praise of any ideological organisation by a serving officer risks undermining the credibility of the police force and sets an undesirable precedent for the administration.

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In a strongly worded social media statement, the MNS chief suggested that if Nangre Patil holds deep admiration for the RSS, he should consider resigning from service and entering politics instead. He also criticised the silence of the state leadership, questioning whether the Chief Minister and Home Minister approve of such expressions from senior officials, and warning that selective enforcement of rules could erode public trust in governance.

Raj Thackeray further cited a past incident from 2012 involving disciplinary action against a police constable, arguing that administrative standards must be applied consistently regardless of political or ideological context. He said that failure to act uniformly would weaken institutional credibility and encourage further politicisation within the police force.

The controversy has also drawn political reactions from opposition parties, including the Maharashtra Congress, which has raised concerns about the broader issue of administrative impartiality. The party has urged the state government to clarify its position, with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis being called upon to address whether such expressions by serving officers are acceptable within the framework of constitutional conduct and civil service discipline.

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