Click to play videoJamnagar: Six years after September 11, with the terror situation as bad as ever, the world can only prepare for deadlier and more spectacular attacks, which may well happen in oil refineries.
At a time when security against terror strikes has become of paramount importance, the Defence Ministry has rejected a proposal from Reliance Petrochemicals to provide special security to its oil refinery in Jamnagar.
To that end, Oil refineries world-wide are now being equipped with anti-aircraft guns and surveillance systems.
Stephen Flynn, of the Washington-based National Security Studies Programme says, “We may be surprised that an oil refinery can pose such a huge threat. Al Qaeda has been acquiring experience in these kinds of attacks in Iraq and Saudi Arabia and sharing the details of constructing improvised explosive devices in Internet chat rooms.”
At such a time, when threat perceptions are rising and the government has admitted that its shoreline is not secure, a request from the Ambani-owned refinery in Jamnagar, on the Gujarat coast, to increase its security measures has been turned down by the Defence Ministry
Sriprakash Jaiswal said, “In our country, we must not have any lapse in any kind of security matters.”
He added, “The Ministry of Defence has to decide where all should it make security arrangements and where it shouldn't.”
The Ambanis had asked for anti-aircraft coverage to ensure there are no surprise suicide air attacks.
But the Ministry of Defence and the Intelligence Bureau have ruled that out because they believe that it would lead to a situation the Government is not prepared or willing to handle.
“If such a security is given to a private company like Reliance, then it will open a Pandora's box and the government will be flooded with requests for similar security arrangements by all other private sector companies,” the Ministry said.
Defence Minister A K Antony disclaimed all knowledge about this.
“I don’t know the details,” he said, adding, “I will check.”
The logic that the government has given is strange, given the fact that government is spending a fortune on Z category and Y category security on hundreds of people including controversial faces like Shibu Soren, who acquitted recently after a lower court murder conviction; J P Yadav, Laloo’s henchman who flouted the law on more than one occasion; and Pappu Yadav, whose security is apparently of great importance even when he is in jail.
This is not exactly a favour the Ambanis want from the government, but a real necessity.
The Saudis are spending a significant part of GDP on guarding their refineries. India badly needs to step up security in these vital installations. But for that, the Ministry of Defence needs to get its priorities right.
(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter and Google+)
displayed with permission. Use of the CNN name and/or logo on or as part of CNN-IBN does not derogate from the intellectual property rights of Cable News Network in respect of them.