Maharashtra Opposition leaders on Tuesday expressed concern over the State government’s proposal to hire ‘contractual personnel’ for the Mumbai Police, deeming the move “risky” and potentially detrimental to both the force and the public.
Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, Ambadas Danve, raised the issue in the Upper House, asserting that the control of the police should remain under the State government’s purview. He went on to draw parallels to a recent incident involving the Wagner Group, a Russian private military force that witnessed a “rebellion against President Vladimir Putin” in June.
“It is dangerous and risky. Contractual cops in the Mumbai Police force could lead to a Wagner Group-like situation,” Mr. Danve said.
“I strongly oppose the recruitment of police on contract. It will lead to a law and order situation. What if the ‘police’ do not obey government orders? A security guard can be on contract, but a policeman cannot be on contract,” Mr. Danve said.
To address a shortage of constables in the city police, the Maharashtra Government has approved the outsourcing of 3,000 personnel from the Maharashtra State Security Corporation, a public sector undertaking of the State Police.
Expressing concern over the implications of employing contractual police, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar camp) MLA Rohit Pawar stated that such a move would be detrimental to both the people as well as the police administration.
“This is creating a smaller brother of Agniveer,” Mr. Rohit Pawar added, referring to the recruits under the Centre’s Agnipath scheme.
