Retired IPS officer and Padma Bhushan recipient Julio Ribeiro raised concerns about the potential challenges faced by minorities in India, drawing parallels with the situations of Hindus and Christians in Pakistan.
“The Hindus and Christians in Pakistan are really living in fear as second-class citizens, which may happen here (in India). That is what I fear,” warned Ribeiro during a discussion.
Despite acknowledging that India is unlikely to experience a war-like situation similar to Gaza, Ribeiro expressed apprehension about the status of minorities in the country. He emphasized the need to avoid a scenario where certain communities become marginalized and live in fear.
Commenting on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent interaction with the Christian community on Christmas, Ribeiro suggested that the PM might be attempting to appeal to the sizable Christian community in Kerala.
“One of the bishops has fallen for it, so I feel because one has fallen others perhaps may fall… let’s see what he (the PM) is trying to do… even among our friends – and most of them are not Christians – they have begun understanding that many of the things he (Modi) said (at the Christmas event) were only for votes,” Ribeiro remarked.
He also expressed scepticism about the sincerity of the Prime Minister’s Christmas message, suggesting that the underlying motive might be to influence India in a certain ideological direction.
Ribeiro, a former police commissioner of Mumbai, voiced concerns about the control of police forces by political leadership in India. He claimed that the police force has become increasingly aligned with the government’s agenda, hindering its ability to function independently.
“Police have totally gone into their (government’s) hands; there is no doubt about it. Anybody who has come to the top has done so either because he has collaborated or because he is not going to protest. That is what is happening…it’s unfortunate,” Ribeiro lamented.
On the issue of police reforms, Ribeiro urged the public to raise their voices, emphasizing the importance of granting more powers to the police force. However, he acknowledged that political parties, including the BJP, Congress, and regional parties, often resist reforms to maintain control over the police.
“As regards the problem of police reforms, I think it is the people who should raise their voices. They don’t understand what is important. Police should get more powers but nobody is in favour of giving these powers to them,” he concluded.
Ribeiro also stressed the duty of every officer to assist the underprivileged when they seek help, underscoring the role of law enforcement in serving the needs of the community.