The Voice of the People Party (VPP) is in favour of Idashisha Nongrang being made the new Director General of Police.
Nongrang, is currently the Director General of Meghalaya Civil Defence and Home Guards. She is one of three officers in line for the job when the incumbent DGP, Lajja Ram Bishnoi, demits office on May 19.
In a press release, VPP spokesperson Batskhem Myrboh said that Nongrang is “known for her professionalism, dedication and efficiency.” She is also the only one of the three candidates who is an indigenous tribal; the other two are Ram Prasad Meena of the Border Security Force and Deepak Kumar of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
Having a local in charge would “bring better connection between the police force and the people due to her knowledge of the local conditions,” Myrboh said, adding that it would be a “grave injustice” if she was to be passed over.
Nongrang has already served as acting DGP before Bishnoi was appointed two years ago.
This is not the first incident of Pitroda sparking a row. In the past too, his controversial remarks have caused unease among the Congress rank and file and sent the party leadership scrambling to issue clarification. Just last month, Pitroda called the inheritance tax – imposed by some states in the US – an “interesting idea”. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several BJP leaders seized on Pitroda’s remarks to double down on their offensive against Congress. Modi had remarked that if elected, the Congress would redistribute the personal wealth of people among “infiltrators” and won’t even spare the mangalsutras of women.
Controversial and irresponsible statements to the media by political leaders especially during election time are a massive concern and have landed their parties in a soup many times in the past. It is therefore imperative for political leaders to think twice while interacting with the media or giving speeches at any forum. At the end of the day, it was another unnecessary comment, another needless embarrassment for the party. Pitroda’s comments are yet another example where a little bit of restraint, tactful use of words, could have gone a long way.
