The Great Indian Intelligence Smorgasbord

I was reminded of this term somehow and looked it. Though the word was originally meant for a dish it has become synonymous with a heterogeneous mixture.

Moving on, I was reading an article on why there is some opposition to the NCTC mooted by the Home Minister, P Chidambaram (PC). Apparently PC envisaged an umbrella organization with an operations wing and which would report solely to him. I initially thought Mamata, among various others, was being extremely impractical when she was opposing the very idea of the NCTC. Now I have mixed feelings. On the one hand we have a number of intelligence agencies. Look at this list. For quite some time there has been a clamour for centralized analysis of intelligence collected by various agencies. It is quite possible that a piece of information collected by an agency in Tamil Nadu, which seems insignificant to the local personnel could be the key piece in a puzzle being put together by a central intelligence agency.

So why can't we change the NCTC into such an agency? Unless I am mistaken we do not have a proper central agency today which does that. We have the NSA and CCS (Cabinet Committee on Security). However they cannot sift through the huge volume of information that keeps flowing in. This could be something that is handed over to the NCTC. It can act as a central collator of information coming in from various quarters. It can analyze the same and then give appropriate directions to various government agencies.

This would also require setting up a secure and robust communication network for information sharing between central agencies. Given today's instances like spyware originating from China, the Stuxnet attack in Iran, this should be all the more secure as it would be used to share very sensitive information. Now we can only wait and watch as to how the NCTC game plays out.

I want izzat: Mamata, I want an aspirin: MMS

Mamata says she wants izzat. Let us have a look at a few things.

1. Mamata did not accompany the PM on his last visit to Bangladesh. On the agenda were discussions on sharing of the Teesta's waters.

2. She did not attend the inauguration of the NSG hub at Kolkata. Chidambaram was present at this meeting. Mamata was upset with the NCTC then I believe.

3. Dinesh Trivedi who showed some sense has been removed. The PM expressed his regret and Mamata says she is not getting respect.

I believe MMS would be very justified if he asked for a fig leaf to protect his modesty or an aspirin to relieve him of a headache. Bengal, apparently does not seem favourable to the UPA. First came the Communists, their previous allies from Bengal (okay, all Communists are not Bengalis but they do have a sizeable presence there). Then came the not-so-good show in the state polls which were a huge success for Mamata. Then came the lady herself. The NCTC is a key requirement in today's India. It would be shame if this fell prey to politics. The states, if they have genuine grievances should highlight them at the appropriate forums instead of playing victims and games of oneupmanship. The centre on its part should give up its arrogance and try to involve all stakeholders.

Moving on, the BSP and TMC today saved the government to an extent. Though the TMC has expressed its opposition to the NCTC it did not vote for the censure motion moved by the CPM, BJP and BJD. The BJD put money where its mouth was. The TMC proved it is all mouth and nothing else. In my opinion these walkouts should be banned. The citizens of this country elect their representatives to act as their voice and legislate, not to walk out. The right to reject is a wonderful idea. Similar to that walkouts should be banned. If parties want to be hypocritic they should at least have the sense to appear so.