The Hindu : Front Page : Narayanan may focus on internal security

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 30, 2004

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Front Page

Narayanan may focus on internal security

By Our Special Correspondent

M.K. Narayanan, who has been appointed Special Secretary in the Prime Minister's Office. — Photo: K.V. Srinivasan

NEW DELHI, MAY 29. M.K. Narayanan, a former Director of the Intelligence Bureau, has been appointed Special Adviser to the Prime Minister in the Prime Minister's Office for a period of three years. He will hold the rank of the Minister of State in the Union Government.

It is expected that Mr. Narayanan will focus mostly on matters related to internal security. With J.N. Dixit already named the National Security Adviser to the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh has moved swiftly to put in place his security team.

I.B. chief from 1987 to 1992, "Mike" Narayanan has a reputation of being one of the most cerebral members of the "security community." He was a member of the post-Kargil task force on "Intelligence" and is familiar with the problems associated with the internal security scenario and remains in touch with officers managing internal security.

The Prime Minister will have a number of "security" issues on his plate. Jammu and Kashmir, the Northeast insurgency, the Naga peace talks, the Sri Lankan-LTTE related issues, and the Naxalite problem are some of the major issues the new Government will have to deal with. On all these issues, Mr. Narayanan can emerge as the most crucial pointman.

It is also expected that the Manmohan Singh government will continue to retain the services of the "Centre's Interlocutor", N.N. Vohra, for ongoing talks with the All Parties Hurriyat Conference. However, it is not certain whether A.S. Dullat, the Officer on Special Duty in the Vajpayee Prime Ministerial Office, will continue. Mr. Dullat, a former I.B. official and a former chief of the Research and Analysis Wing (our external intelligence agency) and an experienced "Kashmir hand", was a key player in Mr. Vajpayee's team that handled Jammu and Kashmir affairs.

As Security Adviser to the Prime Minister, Mr. Narayanan will have the responsibility for coordinating various intelligence agencies. He is expected to start his new assignment in the PMO on May 31.

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