Author: Subodh Ghildiyal & Vishwa Mohan
Publication: The Times of India
Date: November 24, 2006
URL: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS/India/PM_dodges_IB_demand_for_more_teeth_to_fight_terror/articleshow/548209.cms
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday had to duck a strong pitch for an effective anti-terror law by Intelligence Bureau chief E S L Narasimhan.
In his welcome address on the second day of the conference of country's police chiefs, Narasimhan surprised many by strongly articulating the need, long felt by IB as well as police, for special laws to deal with the ever-growing terror threat.
"We need a more robust legal framework to deal with these new threats, which were not envisioned when much of our legal architecture was framed," said Narasimhan. He went on to remind the PM about the threat from tech-savvy and globally-networked terrorists who can strike at targets here without having to step into the country. "The modern environment with all its technological excellence including ease of travel and free information flows offers a vast array of targets to terrorists who need not be based here."
He also spoke of the legal problems that police personnel face while pursuing intelligence leads - an allusion to the inadmissibility of electronic intercepts as evidence - and said that law needs to factor this in.
Referring to fidayeen attacks in the Capital, Mumbai and J&K, Narasimhan said: "We need to revisit our strategy of counter-intelligence to deal with terror."
The PM, who spoke afterwards, did not touch upon the subject which has taken on strong political overtones because of the perception in certain quarters that anti-terror laws are vulnerable to misuse, particularly against minorities.
Narasimhan's pitch for a stronger law assumes significance because it came within days of Prime Minister's categorical assertion that his government was opposed to the return of POTA, which was repealed by UPA government to fulfil its poll pledge.
Unless inspired from within the government and meant to build a case for bringing a special anti-terror law without having to pay the political cost, the IB chief's advocacy could be seen as a bold expression of the sentiments of the security establishment.