Agencies / Gurgaon
India’s National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval Thursday said that police are the enforcers of the law and “if they fail, democracy fails”.
Speaking at the Young Superintendent of Police two-day conference here Doval said:“Law making is the most sacrosanct job in a democracy. It is done by the representative of the people. You are the enforcers of that law. If you fail, democracy fails. If you are not able to enforce the law, then making of that law is immaterial. A law is as good as it is executed on the ground.”
The NSA’s comments come in the wake of the Northeast Delhi riots, where the role of the police has been questioned.
“Perception management” is critical for police to attain “confidence” of people in a democracy and “enhance their trust” NSA said adding that in a democracy, it is extremely important that you (police) should not only be totally dedicated to the law… it is also important that it seems like that, you are credible… But then people will take one stray aberration somewhere, of some policeman having done something, and that will be the headline, and people think that probably he is the standard prototype. So, it is also our responsibility that we are able to create this right perception, because it is the perception that provides confidence to people, enhances trust… if they feel they have a police which is alert, efficient, honest, objective, professionally competent, and friendly.
Doval called for use of technology to manufacture this perception and “contacts” to popularise it. He, however, said: “It should not be propagandist. it should be based on truth, so that over the years, the credibility of it is established.”