The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) continues with its flip flop with the date of the Raising Day celebration of the world's biggest paramilitary force.
While the CRPF was raised as the Crown Representative Police on July 27, 1939, the paramilitary will celebrate the formation day on March 19 this year.
In 2015, the then Director General of CRPF Prakash Mishra had decided to celebrate the raising day on the actual date of its foundation that is on July 27 at the actual place of foundation in Neemuch in Madhya Pradesh.
Till 1983, the raising day of CRPF was celebrated on October 31 but was shifted to November after the assassination of then PM Indira Gandhi on October 31 in 1984. A few years later, it was again shifted to December. However, it again reverted the celebrations to October before being observed in July.
While Deputy Inspector General M Dinakaran of Intelligence branch who also doubles up as the chief spokesperson despite the Force having a full-fledged Indian Information Service as the PRO of the force did not respond to a text message as to why was the CRPF deviating from the actual date of birth anniversary.
CRPF insiders said the force mostly functions on the whims and fancies of the chief and the Raising Day is celebrated on the basis of the availability of the chief guest unlike other paramilitary forces which stick to their actual raising dates.
The then Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel had presented the Presidential Colours to the Force on March 19, 1950 and the raising day has been shifted to the date from 2018, another official said. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval will be the chief guest at this year's raising day.
Top echelons of the CRPF manned by IPS officers also defy the uniform code of the force by wearing the symbol IPS instead of the stipulated CRPF insignia.
As the per the uniform rules, the IPS officers on deputation are supposed to wear the insignia of the CRPF to instill a sense of belongingness to the force and with the cadre officers and the constabulary, another officer said.