RailEnquiry

The Intelligence Bureau (IB) has advised the ministry of home affairs (MHA) to take the administrative control of the Indian Railways' exclusive paramilitary force, Railway Protection Force (RPF).

Headlines Today accessed the IB note that has recommended the take over of the RPF by the MHA stating that the unionism and indiscipline in it might “infect” other paramilitary forces.

“The RPF is the only central paramilitary force having an association, the All Indian Railway Protection Force Association) AIRPFA. Over the years the AIRPFA has become increasingly unionised, participating in an array of activities ranging from organising public demonstrations to maintaining link with political leaders. The unbridled freedom being exercised by the AIRPFA is potentially dangerous for its discipline and professionalism,” the report says.

At the time when indiscipline in the armed forces has become a major issue for the government, IB's damning note warns that if this union was not disbanded, it might affect other forces. “The existence of AIRPFA and its continued non-professional indulgences can prove contagious and can infect other armed forces of the union, thus a need to revisit the case for its continued existence,” it says.

However, the IB report to MHA was set to trigger another major war within the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) with an estranged partner Trinamool Congress strongly objecting to the possible move of taking over of the RPF from the railway ministry, which is still headed by it.

According to sources, Railway Minister Mukul Roy has opposed the move and, on the contrary, demanded more powers for the RPF. Home Minister P. Chidambaram has now been considering the proposal as the unionism in the force has been impacting other paramilitary forces, they said.

Roy had provided Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal Chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who earlier happened to be the railway minister, with RPF security even after she took charge of the state. Banerjee was entitled to RPF security only till she held the railway ministry.

The recognition of the AIRPFA was withdrawn in September 1985, but it was restored on November 13, 1998 by the then railway minister Nitish Kumar. In 2006, the MHA moved a proposal to derecognise the AIRPFA on grounds that formation of any association by the men and subordinated officers of an armed force would have adversely impacting the morale and discipline of other central paramilitary forces.