Basant Rath to campaign for Congress, PDP and NC candidates

SRINAGAR — Basant Rath, the former Inspector General of Police (IGP) of Jammu and Kashmir Police, has once again made headlines, this time by announcing his intention to campaign for joint candidates of Congress, PDP, and National Conference in the upcoming parliamentary elections.

Rath, who lost his Indian Police Service (IPS) job amidst controversies, has appealed to the Jammu and Kashmir Director General Rashmi Ranjan Swain for security assistance during his campaign.

According to the reports received by the news agency KNO, in a letter addressed to the police chief, Rath expressed his determination to travel to the hilly and terror-affected areas of Jammu division to support the aforementioned political candidates.

Citing his past experience in law enforcement and the potential security risks associated with his campaign activities, Rath emphasized the need for adequate security arrangements.

Rath warned that if security is not provided and any untoward incident occurs during his campaign, the responsibility would lie with the police. His request for security comes against the backdrop of his previous confrontations with senior officers and his controversial suspension due to allegations of corruption within the police force.

A resident of Pipli, Uttarkashi village in Puri district, Odisha, Rath completed his studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi, before joining the Indian Police Service through the Civil Services Examination in 2000.

Assigned to the cadre of Jammu and Kashmir, Rath garnered attention for his outspoken demeanour and willingness to challenge authority. However, Rath’s tenure in the police force was marked by controversy, including allegations of corruption against senior officers, leading to his suspension and subsequent premature retirement by the Union Home Ministry in August 2023.