Dilli Ka Babu: Modi talks social media to cops

The conference of director generals and inspector generals of police is an annual affair which is addressed by the Prime Minister.

Prior to the advent of the Modi government, it was held in Delhi but since 2014 following a directive of Mr Modi, the home ministry has been organising the conference outside the national capital.

The last three conferences were held in Guwahati, Rann of Kutch and Hyderabad. During the last meeting in Hyderabad, issues such as cross-border terrorism and radicalisation were discussed in detail.

This year, it was held at the BSF Academy in Tekanpur, Madhya Pradesh and the Prime Minister had a day-long interaction with senior police officers and delivered the keynote speech.

Sources say that the focus of Mr Modi’s address was the importance of social media in the context of cyber security. Cyber security issues should be dealt with immediately and should receive highest priority. In that context, he mentioned the importance of social media, adding the messaging should rely on local languages for greater effectiveness. He also talked about breaking of silos and better information-sharing among the states.

Security matters
Two days and two instances of rejection. Eyebrows were raised in the capital’s babu circles when the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) in a recent meeting declined proposals of the ministry of home affairs (MHA) for extension of deputation tenure of two IPS officers serving in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

The ACC has declined the MHA’s proposal of extending the deputation tenure of 1991 batch Uttar Pradesh cadre IPS officer Piyush Anand, serving as Inspector General (IG) in CRPF. His deputation tenure ended on January 2, 2018.

The committee also declined to extend the deputation tenure of V.S. Yadav, a 1987 batch Tripura cadre IPS and Inspector General of Police in CRPF, for a period of one year beyond November 14, 2017.

However, the committee approved the proposal of the department of personnel and training (DoPT) for temporary upgradation of two vacant posts of DIGs to joint director in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for two years.

Sources say that this has been done to enable supervision of the Vyapam and Ponzi chit fund scam cases.

Cadre power
Jharkhand chief secretary Rajbala Verma is under a cloud with the state government issuing her a show cause notice over the fodder scam.

Apparently, the babu has not responded to more than 30 notices from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) since 2003. Ms Verma was asked to explain why she did not take action to highlight the multi-crore scam in the 1990s in her capacity as the then deputy commissioner of West Singbhum district. The Opposition parties too have been raising a ruckus demanding Ms Verma’s removal and an independent probe into her role in the scam.

Political heat aside, Ms Verma is due for superannuation next month and lobbying is underway for the coveted post. Sources say the government is considering IAS officers from 1983 to 1985 batches. It is also rumoured that the government may not include IAS officers on central deputation for consideration.

As such, Ms Smita Chugh, member secretary, Tariff Commission; Mr Rajiv Gauba, union home secretary; Mr B.K. Tripathi, member secretary, NCR Planning Board and Mr Udai Pratap Singh, vice-chairman of DDA are out of reckoning.