Congress will dismantle ‘ discriminatory system’ which denies leadership opportunities to CAPF personnel: Rahul Gandhi
On the Gallantry Day of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Gandhi said that he and the Congress hold CAPF personnel in the highest regard and firmly believe that advancement within their Force, access to senior leadership roles and due respect are their rightful right.
“On CRPF Bravery Day, I offer my heartfelt congratulations and respectful tributes to the brave and courageous soldiers of our Force,” Gandhi said in a Hindi post on channel X.
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“Your courage and sacrifice protect our nation every day. You keep the country safe by deploying at our borders; you oppose the threats of terrorism and Naxalism and ensure that the greatest festival of democracy, our elections, remains peaceful and safe,” the Opposition Leader said. he said.
“However, a true tribute is not just about words. Despite years of sacrifice, arduous duty and service, CAPF personnel neither receive timely promotions nor the right to lead their own Forces as senior leadership positions are reserved for individuals from outside the organisation,” he said.
Gandhi said CAPF personnel have specialized training, invaluable ground-level experience and deep strategic insight. “Therefore, from a national security perspective, it is imperative that these forces are led by people who come from the same system, who truly understand the unique challenges and requirements of the troops,” Gandhi said.
He said this institutional injustice, from being denied leadership opportunities to confronting long-pending issues regarding pay, welfare and dignity, undermines the morale of soldiers who devote their entire lives to the service and security of the nation.
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“This is not just a matter of career advancement; it is fundamentally a matter of justice and dignity,” Gandhi said.
“The Congress Party and I remember you with the highest respect and affection. We firmly believe that it is your right to advance within your own Power, to attain senior leadership roles and to be given due respect,” Gandhi said.
“After forming the government, we will eliminate this discriminatory system and ensure that CAPF personnel are given all rights and privileges,” the former Congress chief said.
Gandhi said the nation is indebted to our brave heroes and it is time they get the justice they deserve.
His remarks came just days after Parliament approved a bill to create a unified legal framework governing personnel in different Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), replacing the existing separate service rule regimes for the five central forces.
Some opposition members said the bill should be referred to a joint committee of Parliament for detailed scrutiny and stakeholder consultations. They said staff and civil servants should be consulted before a new legal framework is introduced.
If the government had understood the grievances of CAPF personnel and officers, they said, a better law would have been in place long ago.
The bill, which was passed by the Rajya Sabha last Wednesday, was approved by the Lok Sabha by voice vote.
Gandhi said the government was determined to legally pursue the injustice of discrimination against CAPF jawans through the bill and asserted that his party would repeal such a “discriminatory law” once it comes to power.
The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha had said that he wanted to speak about the bill in the Parliament and had requested the government to make necessary corrections while visiting Assam, but the government had refused on the grounds that “it does not want me to speak on this issue in Parliament”.
