NEW DELHI: The iconic North Block, which houses Ministry of Home Affairs, is shrinking to accommodate PM-designate Narendra Modi’s “shake up administration” plan of moving out internal security and placing it directly under the Prime Minister’s Office situated across the road on Raisina Hills. A senior official, aware of the plan, said it will be a lean and highly efficient internal security wing to handle growing terror threats.
“The file hasn’t moved yet but the planning is on and I think it would be executed soon. It may take some time due to administrative procedures. The restructuring will help in tackling inter-connected tasks related to counter-terror and intelligence gathering. Intelligence Bureau, NATGRID and National Investigation Agency will directly report to PMO, sidestepping bureaucratic obtuseness,” said the official, requesting anonymity.
The official, however, admitted that option of handing over the administrative work to the Minister of State (MoS) and keeping the internal security with the cabinet minister is being discussed. Security analyst Ajay Sahni argued that structure doesn’t matter and Internal Security division must be given to Home Minister who will in turn report to Prime Minister.
“In UPA’s tenure, the focus was too much on administrative work and Home Ministers wanted to see every file. It was problem of leadership and not the structure. The new government must focus on the steps to be taken to strengthen the mechanism rather than structure. Whether internal security ministry will be housed in North or South Block is secondary,” Sahni added.
As per the existing official architecture of Home Ministry, 20 divisions directly report to the Home Secretary and in turn to the Union Home Minister—the second most important portfolio in the central government. Of these, internal security wing-I & II is handled by Special Secretary (IS), a position vacant for several months, officials said.
Internal security division-I deals with matters related to insurgency, terrorism, naxalism, activities of inimical foreign agencies, terrorist financing, rehabilitation, immigration matters and security clearances for foreigners working in India. It is also responsible for monitoring ISI activities and its links with various terrorist organisations in the country. Internal Security-II is responsible for coordination with foreign law enforcement agencies and matters related to explosives and narcotics.
The residuary Home Ministry will be responsible for administrative work including Gallantry and Padma awards, appointment of Governors, creation of new states, over-seeing the crime situation in states, imposition of President’s Rule, disaster management division, policy matters related to J&K and central armed forces and cadre management of IPS officers.
D C Pathak, former IB Director, said the real task of independent Internal Security Ministry would be to synchronise functions of security and intelligence agencies working in isolation.“Intelligence and action plan must be handled at one table. We cannot afford lack of coordination among agencies tasked to secure the country,” Pathak added.
Citing Home Secretary Anil Goswami’s meeting with Modi earlier this week, a source said the government is also looking to overhaul the coastal security and existing intelligence collection and dissemination mechanism. “Besides new internal security ministry, reforms ranging from government approach in tackling insurgency and criminal justice system are also being worked out. The Home Ministry’s presentation to Modi has been prepared keeping radical restructuring plan as priority,” he added.
PROPOSED MINISTRY OF INTERNAL SECURITY MAIN FUNCTIONS
■ North-East, J&K Insurgency
■ Terrorism
■ Naxalism
■ Security clearances for foreigners
■ Monitoring ISI and foreign agencies
■ Grant of visa & immigration matters
■ Home Secretary-level talks with Pakistan on terrorism and drug trafficking
RESIDUARY HOME MINISTRY MAIN FUNCTIONS
■ Centre-state
relations
■ Governor’s
appointment
■ Disaster
management
■ State legislations and matters related to commission of inquiry
■ Cadre control of IPS officers
■ Legislative and constitutional matters relating to Union territories
■ Human rights division
■ Freedom fighter’s rehabilitation
■ Official languages
■ RGI for census