New Delhi, December 23
As part of government’s measures to tackle terror, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram today proposed some bold steps that included radical restructuring of his ministry — even its bifurcation —
and constitution of ‘National Centre for Counter Terrorism’ (NCTC) by the next year.
Speaking at the 22nd Intelligence Bureau centenary endowment lecture here today, Chidambaram unveiled the plan to radically restructure the security apparatus, including working of intelligence agencies. The NCTC will have under its umbrella key intelligence agencies and the organisation’s task would be to prevent terror attacks, conduct investigation and undertake operations.
While addressing the gathering comprising the brass of the security agencies, former IB directors and serving and retired bureaucrats, the Home Minister stressed upon shunning “business-as-usual” approach.
Notably, the inclusion of operations under the NCTC would, of course, be the most sensitive and difficult part. “…but I am clear in my mind that without operations NCTC and the security architecture will be incomplete,” the Home Minister said. The operations wing -- so far absent — will give an edge to plans on counter terrorism, he said.
Asked if the NCTC would also carry out external operations, the Home Minister said “possibly” and that a new legislation may not be needed for the organisation to function. The National Investigation Agency, National Technical Research Organisation, Joint Intelligence Centre and the NSG would probably function under the NCTC.
The multi-agency centre set up after the Mumbai attacks would also be under the new body, to be headed by a leading security expert, either from police or armed forces, said Chidambaram. He said the positioning of Research and Analysis Wing, The Aviation Research Centre and Central Bureau of Investigation
(CBI) — all functioning under the PM — would have to be re-examined.
The intelligence agencies of the ministries of Defence and Finance would continue to function under the respective ministries, but their representatives would have to be compulsorily deputed to the NCTC.
On his own ministry, Chidambaram said it handled a wide portfolio of subjects, therefore, a division of the current functions was unavoidable. Giving an example, he said the MHA had a desk to deal with freedom fighters but there was none for forensic science.
He said the Home Ministry was performing a number of functions that had no relation with internal security. Centre-State Relations, State Legislation, Human Rights, Union Territories, Disaster Management, Census — all under MHA — are important functions and deserve close attention. Subjects not directly related to internal security should be dealt by a separate ministry or be brought under a separate department under the MHA, he said.
Chidambaram went on to say that a year after the Mumbai attacks the security agencies were more alert. “…but I think there is still some distance to go before we can claim to have acquired the capacity to respond swiftly and decisively to a terror attack. There is a need to network all the databases that contain vital information and intelligence. Crucial information that rests in one database is not available to another agency. The government has decided to set up NATGRID. A total of 21 databases will be networked to achieve quick, seamless and desired information for intelligence agencies,” he added.
