SRINAGAR: After being prematurely retired by the central government, former IPS officer Basant Rath has officially registered himself as a BJP activist online. Rath, who had been suspended for over three years due to “repeated instances of gross misconduct and misbehavior,” has joined the BJP and sought the blessings of the people for his foray into politics.
The former IGP-rank officer’s retirement was announced via a government notification dated August 7, following media reports on Wednesday.
Rath shared a screenshot of a welcome note from the BJP on social media, indicating his affiliation with the party. Reacting to this development, Sunil Sethi, the BJP’s Jammu and Kashmir chief spokesperson, clarified that joining the party as a member online does not automatically entail a role or responsibility within the party. Such decisions are made by the party’s leadership.
Sethi emphasized that discipline is a core value within the BJP and noted that Rath’s premature retirement was a result of his indiscipline. Rath had been suspended by the central government in July 2020 due to repeated instances of misconduct.
The former IPS officer had lodged a complaint against Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police Dilbagh Singh in July 2020, citing concerns about his personal safety. Rath’s retirement was marked by an official notification dated August 7, stating that he was “not fit to be retained in service in public interest.”
The Ministry of Home Affairs, through an office memorandum, explained that the central government had assessed Rath’s performance and the proposal of the UT division before concluding that he should be retired in public interest.
