Party vows to depoliticise police force

Sarbjit Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 8

The Congress manifesto will focus on “complete elimination” of the VIP culture, besides laying down a code of conduct for the party’s elected representatives, including MLAs.

Sources said the manifesto would promise to make the police functioning immune to political interference, besides implementing the Parkash Singh committee report regarding police reforms in letter and spirit. For the past few years, political interference allegedly by halqa chiefs in the police functioning remained a burning issue in the state.

The Congress would promise to rid the department of that sort of political culture. The eight-hour duty norm will be implemented for police personnel. Security cover would be provided only on merit.

There would be a list of dos and don’ts for the elected representatives. Promise would be made to enact new laws to tackle existing problems such as monopoly of cable network. All officers will have to declare their assets and the Lok Pal will be strengthened.

The manifesto would announce to protect Punjab’s right over riverwaters and to restore the primacy of the state at the national level. There is likely to be a special package for border belt. Other major focus would be on women empowerment and gender equality.