Nagpur: Newly appointed Nagpur Police Commissioner and senior IPS officer Vishwas Nangre Patil on Monday addressed the controversy surrounding his remarks at a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) event and outlined his vision for policing in Orange City after formally assuming charge.

Nangre Patil had earlier praised the RSS while speaking at an event organised by the Sakal Hindu Samaj in Navi Mumbai, triggering a political row. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray had subsequently suggested that the IPS officer resign from service and join the RSS or the BJP.

Addressing a press conference after taking charge as Nagpur’s Police Commissioner on June 29, Nangre Patil said he was grateful that Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had reposed faith in him and that this would be his first assignment in Nagpur.

The newly appointed commissioner said maintaining law and order in the city would be his foremost priority. He added that issues concerning youth, women and senior citizens would receive special attention. He also stressed that professional and core policing would remain at the centre of his approach and that he intended to work as a team by taking people into confidence.

“We have IPS written on our shoulders, which means serving the people. If anyone has to fear, it should be criminals. The public has no reason to be afraid,” he said.

Clarifying his remarks at the RSS-linked event, Nangre Patil said it was the duty of police officers to attend programmes organised by social and cultural organisations and provide guidance and awareness.

He said the event in question was held on April 19 in Sanpada and that he had been invited by prominent personalities. The programme was conducted after office hours, around 8.30 pm.

“I regularly attend programmes organised by Muslim, Buddhist and Christian communities as well. During the event, I spoke about a mantra from the Upanishads, our culture of love and service, discussed the Dnyaneshwari in detail and also spoke about the menace of drugs. It was a constructive and positive programme,” he said.

Nangre Patil further clarified that he had spoken on topics including Vande Bharat and the RSS centenary year during the event and maintained that he had not violated any rules. “Everything I said was within the framework of the law,” he stated while explaining the viral video controversy.

The police commissioner also announced that women’s safety would receive top priority during his tenure. He emphasised the need to boost the morale of police personnel and described members of the police force as his family.

“Police personnel are members of my family. If anyone attacks a police officer, appropriate action will be taken strictly within the framework of the law,” he warned.