In this country, the strongest of formations are the political class and the bureaucracy. They are the strongest organized units in this country. And when they combine, you can take it from me that nothing in this country will move. If they join hands and decide ‘this has to be done’, there’s no stopping them, and if they decide ‘that cannot be done’, it’s bound to falter and fail. Leave aside the police, this formation has been able to humiliate the Indian Army, which is (otherwise) such a respected and strong body. Even the Army had to eat a humble pie on so many occasions; chiefs are humiliated on so many issues because of opposition (to their proposals) from the bureaucracy.

Police is completely under the control of the political class and the bureaucracy. They have wielded this power so long that it has had an intoxicating effect on them. Having become addicted to using the police, for certain purposes over and above its normal functions—for example, to frame somebody, to ensure their supporters do not get caught by the police, are not charge-sheeted, etc—they are not letting this power go out of their hands.