Raj Thackeray Slams IPS Officer Over RSS Praise: Resign and Join BJP?
Raj Thackeray Slams IPS Officer Over RSS Praise: Resign and Join BJP?
MNS chief Raj Thackeray blasts IPS officer Vishwas Nangre Patil for praising RSS, sparking debate over impartiality. Is loyalty to the uniform or a political organization paramount? #MaharashtraPolitics
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray has stirred a fresh political pot, lambasting IPS officer Vishwas Nangre Patil for publicly praising the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) at one of its events. Thackeray didn't mince words, directly challenging the decorated officer to resign from service and join the Sangh or the BJP if his affections truly lie with them. "If you feel affection for the Sangh, keep it in your heart, or if you want to speak about it publicly, then resign from service and join the Sangh or the BJP," Thackeray stated in a sharp social media post on Saturday, June 27, 2026.
Vishwas Nangre Patil, a highly respected officer celebrated for his courageous role during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks in 2008, recently assumed the significant post of Police Commissioner of Nagpur. His appearance and laudatory remarks about the RSS – praising its discipline, dedication, and patriotism – at a recent event have ignited this political firestorm.
Thackeray didn't stop at criticizing Nangre Patil; he also squarely questioned the Chief Minister, asking if the government condones such "dual loyalty" from its IPS officers. He warned of potential future repercussions, reminding the CM, "Tomorrow, if after you’re out of power, some officer attends an event of another organization, don’t then raise a hue and cry!"
The MNS chief further drew a parallel to a past incident, recalling how a constable was sent on forced leave for supporting his party's agitation for the police force after the 2012 Azad Maidan riots in Mumbai. That incident saw police personnel assaulted and the Amar Jawan Jyoti memorial vandalized, underscoring Thackeray's point about perceived selective enforcement of impartiality.
The controversy has also drawn fire from other opposition parties. Congress leader Praful Gudadhe expressed concern, fearing that officers like Nangre Patil might start labeling political opponents as 'urban naxals'. Thackeray emphasized the core expectation of a police officer: impartiality and unwavering loyalty to their uniform, questioning whether Nangre Patil had forgotten this fundamental principle. This incident has reignited debates surrounding the political affiliations of civil servants and the delicate balance of their professional duties versus personal beliefs.
