CBI is a credible, independent organisation, says Shinde

Meerut: Dismissing criticism of CBI, Union Home Minister Sushil kumar Shinde on Sunday defended the agency, saying it is a credible, independent organisation which should be respected.

"When people are not in power, they say such things. CBI is a credible, independent organisation. It should be respected," Shinde said at a function in Meerut after inaugurating RAF academy of Public Order, the country's first police academy for riot control and public order management.

The opposition BJP and its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi have alleged that CBI was being misused by the government to settle political scores.

Adding to the string of controversies surrounding the CBI, the Gauhati High Court has ruled the agency as unconstitutional, an order which has been stayed by the Supreme Court after the Centre challenged it.

Shinde evaded queries on Rahul Gandhi's controversial remark that ISI was contacting victims of Muzaffarnagar riots, which had drawn the ire of opposition parties.

"The riots occurring in Muzaffarnagar are not good. Such type of violence should not occur in the country. People will benefit from the riot control academy which has been set up in Uttar Pradesh," he said.

Referring to the helicopter incident earlier in the day, he asked media to exercise restraint while reporting news.

The helicopter carrying the Home Minister landed on wet ground in Meerut, following which its wheels got stuck in the mud, but he was not hurt.

"A section of the media said 'HM had a narrow escape', following which I got several calls. Media should be careful while reporting news," he said.

The Home Minister said India's borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh are being sealed to stop intruders from entering into the country.

On the Naxal issue, Shinde asserted that it has been brought under control to a large extent.

When asked about allegations of biased action by police and the state administration against the accused in the Muzaffarnagar riots, the Minister said he had no knowledge of it as they do not interfere in the state's functioning and that they can't get involved beyond a certain level in state matters.

The Home Minister said the government would consider to raise more units of the exclusive riot control force once a proposal in this regard is made.

The minister said the Rapid Action Force (RAF) is a versatile unit and it is effective during challenging situations.

The government will sanction expanding this exclusive blue dungaree force from the existing ten battalions (about 10,000 personnel) if its parent organisation CRPF asks for it, he said.

The RAF academy of Public Order (RAPO) will be run by paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in its 108th battalion campus of the RAF in Meerut.

The academy was conceptualised about two years back but its inauguration was delayed due to various administrative reasons.

The centre, developed on a 25-acre land, is being raised as a Centre of Excellence for training and development of capability in public order management, riot control and crowd management.

Shinde complimented the RAF for their good work and said the new institute will train police and paramilitary in dealing better with rioters and mobs.