Jammu, February 28 (Scoop News) –While suggesting that instead of outrightly rejecting the “Draft Jammu & Kashmir Police Bill 2013”, there is need for a rational and objective discussion on various proposals incorporated in it, BJP Chief Spokesperson & National Executive Member Dr. Jitendra Singh said here today that the BJP has always favoured total accountability of police personnel without impinging on the democratic liberties of a common citizen but this should not lead to any bias or prejudice against bringing in reforms particularly in the light of the fact that the existing Police Act in Jammu & Kashmir was framed way back in 1927 and was inspired by Indian Police Act of 1862 enacted by the British.
Dr. Jitendra Singh said that over the last one century, not only the nature of crime has changed but the society’s expectations from police have also evolved to a different level. It was considering this fact that the Supreme Court of India had six years ago put forward the suggestion of police reforms, he added. He said, while, for example, conventional crime had yielded place to cyber crime, the 21st century policing also called for use of hi-tech crime control techniques. Moreover, the menace of terrorism has added a new dimension to the constraints of policing, he added.
Dr. Jitendra Singh said that proposal for empowerment of Village Defence Committees (VDCs), envisaged in the Draft Police Bill, has been a long standing demand of BJP and it is in recognition of a commendable role played by the VDCs during the height of militancy in this state.
Calling for a dispassionate debate on reforms, Dr. Jitendra Singh appealed to Kashmir-centric political groups not to exploit the issue to raise separatist passions and assured that wherever there is an unwarranted intrusion into a common citizen’s freedom, the BJP will oppose it without any compromise.