Chidambaram has his task cut out: tougher anti-terror law, police reforms

As Minister of State for Home in charge of Internal Security in 1987, he had successfully piloted significant amendments into the now defunct TADA

At a time when enactment of a tough anti-terror law is one of the topmost priorities in the Government’s fight against terrorism, it is only apt that P Chidambaram has been given the charge of Home Ministry in the wake of the resignation of Shivraj Patil.

As a young Minister of State for Home in charge of Internal Security in Rajiv Gandhi’s Cabinet, Chidambaram, in 1987, had successfully piloted the significant amendments into the now defunct Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA), the very first in a series of anti-terror legislations that the

Indian Government has enacted and repealed.

The 1987 amendments had introduced stringent provisions into the Act, which was first promulgated in 1985, and brought membership of a terrorist organisation, harbouring or concealing terrorists, and owning property derived as a result of terrorist act within the ambit of TADA.

That prior experience with an anti-terror law notwithstanding, Chidambaram also comes armed to the Home Ministry with the complete confidence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and an impression of being a decisive and no-nonsense man, and a simple brief — to stop the chain of deadly terrorist strikes in the country.

That would be a formidable challenge though. Chidambaram would be expected to move fast on a number of long-standing proposals, prominent among those being the anti-terror law and setting up of a federal investigating agency, two points that have been stressed quite a few times by none other than the Prime Minister himself in the last few days.

Chidambaram is also expected to act swiftly on starting a massive modernisation of police forces, a complete overhaul of intelligence gathering mechanism and implementation of proposals like mega-city policing and coastal security scheme.

He has already begun working. Immediately after being named as the next Home Minister, Chidambaram was briefed by the senior-most official of the ministry, Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta. Gupta is said to have apprised him of all the major issues relating to the ministry with the specific focus of steps being taken to prevent terrorist attacks.

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Chidambaram, a first time MP during his previous stint in the Home Ministry, held the charge of internal security for three years, from 1986 to 1989 and makes a return to the ministry after almost two decades.