Click to play videoNew Delhi: It took National Security Guard (NSG) commandos at least nine hours to get into action, after terrorists first struck at Mumbai’s Leopold Café on November 26 and later spread out to other landmark places, firing indiscriminately at people.
The delay invited widespread criticism, with many blaming poor coordination between the various security apparatuses of the country for the 60-hour-long terror siege laid on Mumbai.
However, the Union Government has now decided to make amends for the past failures. In a landmark decision, the Union Cabinet on Monday cleared a proposal to set up a National Investigative Agency (NIA) to streamline all terror probes across the country.
The NIA is being set up to deal with terrorism, insurgency and cyber crimes. It will be an autonomous body, likely to be headed by the Prime Minister. The agency will have its own cadre and its own special courts.
Henceforth, a terror attack will be considered an emergency — an attack on the nation — making it the Centre’s duty to protect the country. Therefore, tackling terrorism will now be made a Centre subject though Law and Order would continue to rest with state.
Even though the move is facing some opposition from politicians—including Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati—most of them have already started coming around it.
“Even if states suffer some constraint on liberty, we should be prepared for it,” Samajwadi Party chief Amar Singh said.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) too kept its promise of supporting the Government in tackling terror.
“We want an effective NIA and effective terror laws,” said senior BJP leader Venkaih Naidu.
The debatable issue now is whether one man's terrorist can be another's freedom fighter.
Therefore, it will be imperative for Parliament to ensure that the NIA doesn’t become a tool for settling political scores.
The amended Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) bill will be tabled in Rajya Sabha soon. Another bill undergoing a change is the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) Act. The Cabinet approval will help private agencies to get CISF cover.
The issue was first raised after Reliance's Jamnagar refinery asked for anti-aircraft gun since it is directly in the line of fire from Pakistan.
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