New Delhi:
Home Minister P Chidambaram appears all set to become the security czar of India. His proposal for a unified structure for internal security is coming together, especially with MK Narayanan now out as National Security Advisor.
But NDTV has learnt that the NSA has objected in writing to Chidambaram's ambitious plans.
Now, the Home Minister has reacted by saying that the statements in his speech are not yet a formal proposal.
"The NSA still has a lot of work. It advises the Prime Minister on very many issues aside from terrorism, like civil nuclear agreements, border issues and others. And the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) should converge under National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC). Agencies dealing with terrorism must be under NCTC," he said.
Terrorism is just one part of national security, he added.
Also, Shiv Shankar Menon is set to replace the once high-profile M K Narayanan as National Security Advisor. But his job description is less clear. Will Menon, a career diplomat, essentially focus on India's relations with China, the US, and Pakistan? And if that's the case, does the job of keeping the country safe fall squarely upon the shoulders of Home Minister P Chidambaram?
At a speech four weeks ago, Chidambaram made it clear that's what he prefers. "In my view, the Ministry of Home Affairs will have to be divided. Those issues with no connection with terror... should not be with the Home Minister. The Home Ministry should devote time only to internal security," he had said.
Not on board with that suggestion, MK Narayanan, who was then still National Security Advisor. In a note, he questioned both the bifurcation of the Home Ministry and the proposal that all intelligence agencies report directly to Chidambaram. But with Narayanan now heading to Bengal as Governor, his objections may find few takers.
What Chidambaram wants now is the creation of an American-style National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) which centralises all intelligence-gathering and anti-terror operations. Sources say even the role of Research and Analyis Wing (RAW) may be re-defined.
Many say that if Chidambaram has his way and the NCTC becomes a reality, the NSA has little to do.
Others argue that the bifurcation is overdue and that the PM wants to use the new NSA to resurrect the failed dialogue with Pakistan. In effect, the new NSA could then be running foreign policy.