The Fallout

In the wake of the Mumbai attacks which left the Centre red-faced for its inaction on several long-pending proposals, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the government had decided to set up a federal investigation agency (FIA), strengthen air and maritime security and create four National Security Guard (NSG) hubs in various parts of the country. At an all-party meeting on terror, Singh said several measures were already in place to deal with the situation. “But much more needs to be done and we are determined to take all necessary measures to overhaul the system,” he said. “We have finalised a set of legal measures based on the recommendations of the Administrative Reforms Commission that includes the setting up of an FIA,” Singh said. He said the government would further strengthen maritime and air security for which measures had been initiated. This will involve the navy, coast guard and coastal police, as well as the IAF and the civil aviation ministry. “The antiterrorist forces will be strengthened and streamlined. The NSG will be given additional facilities and its size will be augmented,” he said. Steps have also been initiated to establish four NSG hubs in different parts of the country. Special forces at the Centre’s disposal would be used in counter-insurgency operations. Although the decentralisation of the NSG has been an old demand, the long time commandos took to reach Mumbai from Manesar led to calls to set up the force’s units in other parts of the country. Home ministry officials have already discussed a proposal to set up such hubs in Kolkata and Hyderabad.Endorsing the PM’s stand, all participants, save the Left, backed the idea of a federal agency. The Left only gave a conditional OK saying the Centre must consult states. The agency is likely to help better coordination, getting around the gaps that the multiplicity of jurisdictions cause. However, there was no consensus on the return of Pota, but the overall mood seemed to be more favourable to a special antiterror law (mild form of Pota) than before. BJP leader L K Advani and party chief Rajnath Singh skipped the meeting as they were campaigning for the assembly polls in Rajasthan.