Abdur Rahman, senior IPS officer, resigned from his post as Special Inspector General of Police (IGP), State Human Rights Commission of Maharashtra on Wednesday. He cited his opposition of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (CAB) as the reason for quitting his post.
In a letter addressed to the Additional Chief Secretary of the Home Department of Maharashtra on Twitter, Rahman requests that his either accept his application filed under the Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) that had been rejected by the MHA, or consider the letter as his resignation. Rahman tweeted a copy of the letter that may be viewed here.
Though the letter to the Chief Secretary does not mention the reason for leaving as an act of civil disobedience against CAB, his tweet accompanying the letter says so.
Announcing his resignation on Twitter Rahman said, “The #CitizenshipAmendmentBill2019 is against the basic feature of the Constitution. I condemn this Bill. In civil disobedience I have decided not attend office from tomorrow. I am finally quitting the service.”
He added, “This Bill is against the religious pluralism of India. I request all justice loving people to oppose the bill in a democratic manner. It runs against the very basic feature of the Constitution.”
He also wrote an open letter to his fellow citizens explaining his objection to CAB. He wrote, “It (CAB) runs against the religious pluralism and spirit of tolerance of the Indian nation. If implemented it will destroy the brotherhood and common fabric among people.”
This Bill is against the religious pluralism of India. I request all justice loving people to oppose the bill in a democratic manner. It runs against the very basic feature of the Constitution. @ndtvindia@IndianExpress #CitizenshipAmendmentBill2019 pic.twitter.com/1ljyxp585B
— Abdur Rahman (@AbdurRahman_IPS) December 11, 2019
Rahman is an IPS officer from the 1999 batch of Maharashtra cadre and the author of the book Denial and Deprivation: Indian Muslim’s After the Sachar Committee and Rangnath Mishra Commission Reports.