UPA-2's first anniversary: Home Ministry's Report Card

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Abdullah Khan

22 May, 2010

The UPA-II is a reincarnation of Hamlet character of Shakespeare. It seems to have tripped badly on internal security in its one year of rule. While PM Dr Manmohan Singh admitted that the Naxal menace is the biggest challenge faced by the govt.

THE PM's statement of viewing the Naxal menace as the biggest threat before the nation vindicates his fears after the Dantewada-II blast, confirming the feeling that the Naxals are geared up for a no hold barred battle with the State . Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram's completion of a year in office in UPA-II government comes amidst bigger strikes in the Left Wing extremism affected states. The Ministry has failed to put a stop to the Naxal related incidents in the country in one year.

The Dantewada attack, killing 76 security personnel, was the worst-ever Naxal attack and it had dented Chidambaram's image and forced the Home Minister to offer his resignation. The attack on hapless civilians in Chhattisgarh made it clear that the steps taken by the Ministry are inadequate. The stand taken by some states like the West Bengal where the Trinamool Congress and the CPM are at loggerheads on the Maoist menace, blamed each other for the large-scale violence in Lalgarh and Singur. The Left Front Government did not give any forthright reply to the Centre on handling the issue but was more keen on putting the blame on Trinamool Congress Chief Mamata Banerjee time and again.

Home Minister P. Chidambaram is also caught in a web over the Naxal issue, where his ministry and the anti-naxal policy has been time and again targetted by the leaders from his own Congress and the Human Right Activists. Matters became worse with senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh taking on Chidambaram in an article in a national daily leaving one wondering whether he could have made such bold statement without the blessings of the central party leadership.

The Home ministry lacks teeth to tackle the Naxalite menace. After all, Congress cannot afford to erase from its memory the Operation Blue Star,which left a trail of serious domestic unrest. The Government is well aware of the repercussions of any such army operation against the Naxals. The Home Minister employed all his legal acumen skillfully and left the issue at the doorsteps of the States by stating that they have an unlimited mandate to fight this menace.

On the terrorism issue, there was some achievement. Only one incident took place in Pune in February since 26/11 Mumbai attacks. Investigations are on in the case. Yet another success was the access to LeT operative David Coleman Headley who is under US custody. A team of NIA would be visiting the US very soon to have a direct access to the man who did recce before Mumbai was attacked by LeT terrorist.

The Home Minister had to face some criticism over his overnight declaration of the formation of “Telangana” state. The process to build a political consensus and assess the views of the public is still on.

The performance of the Home Ministry in the last one year was satisfactory to some extent, but still a long way to go to provide security to innocent lives. There is a need to have a united approach towards the problem and the Ministry of Home Affairs must take the lead. There is also a need to improve the training of the force facing the menace and block the supply of Arms and ammunition to the Naxal areas.