Dubbing the RPF as a "toothless" organisation, Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha on Wednesday strongly pitched for more powers for it even as his senior ministerial colleague Piyush Goyal played down his concerns, asserting that regardless of a law they should move on with their work.
Goyal also said an amendment to the existing Railways Act was only a "technicality", and urged the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and the Government Railway Police (GRP) to work together to secure railways and passengers.
Speaking at a conference on security of railways, both Sinha and RPF Director General Arun Kumar pushed for handing over the registration, enquiry and detection of passenger-related crimes on board running trains to the force.
Currently, even if a crime is detected by the RPF, the case has to be handed over to the GRP for further enquiry.
"RPF is a toothless organisation. It is involved in security, but has no powers. Despite ability and efforts, the RPF has not got the powers it deserves. However, it is blamed for everything that happens on railway premises. But the reality is that other than taking care (of railway property), RPF has no real powers. An amendment in the law, I personally feel, is the need of the hour," Sinha said.
However, Goyal asserted that "whether the law is changed or not, whether the GRP does it or the RPF, these are all technicalities. We have to decide that we need to work together to secure passengers. Then law will not come in the way."