Priority to ‘Telangana’, Intelligence for the new government
New Delhi: BJP president Rajnath Singh, sworn in as Union Cabinet minister in the Modi government on Monday, is tipped to hold the key charge of the ministry of home affairs.
As the new home minister, Mr Singh will have his hands full, with immediate tasks being the creation of the new state of Telangana, with its formation day fast approaching on June 2, revamping of the ministry functions for smooth coordination with state governments, restructuring of intelligence-sharing mechanisms to tackle terror threats from terror outfits like Indian Mujahideen, cross-border terror, infiltration, left-wing extremism and insurgency in the Northeast, and implementation of 33 per cent reservation for women in police forces topping his agenda.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already signalled that the focus is on strengthening the National Security Council and the role of the national security adviser in the new government.
A special status for the Seemandhra region after creation of Telangana is also being discussed and debated and a final call will be taken by the new home minister. The saffron party has said it is committed to do justice to Seemandhra and addressing the issue of development and governance and Telangana.
The implementation of a Uniform Civil Code, revisiting Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir to debate whether the special status has benefited the state or not are some of the contentious proposals likely to be drawn up under the charge of the new home minister.
Making the National Intelligence Grid functional, strengthening of the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network, technological interventions to tackle threats from cyber crime will become focus areas even as the National Intelligence Agency will be strengthened by developing specialised training modules in investigation for officers and a possible reworking of the NIA Act.
On the cards is the creation of a Regional Council of States with a view to seeking solutions to tackle common problems and concerns. It can be applicable across a group of states and re-activating forums like the National Development Council and Inter-state Council which had largely become defunct during the UPA regime.
Strict implementation of laws related to women security, making self defence a part of school curriculum and creation of an acid attack victim welfare fund are some of the women-centric measures to top the agenda of the home minister.
