Only MHA to speak on Naxal issue: Cab Secy

Just two days after the attack in which 76 security personnel were killed,Army chief General V K Singh contended that the high casualty was a result of deficiency in training pattern of the CRPF personnel. “There were internal deficiencies in what happened there,in training and other things,” General Singh had said,maintaining that training in the Army was more homogenous and therefore,prone to lower casualties.

With such remarks hitting the morale of the CRPF,Union Home Minister P Chidambaram was compelled to immediately come out with a rebuttal asserting that the CRPF was among the finest police forces in the country doing its job in the worst of terrain.

Similarly,Air Chief Marshal P V Naik had contended that the Air Force could not be used “on our own people”. Senior Home Ministry officials said the Air Chief’s remarks were misplaced as Armed Forces were being used in Jammu & Kashmir as well as the Northeast.

Officials said the latest order was expected to put an end to the inconsistent views,adding that a similar directive authorising only one ministry to brief the media had been issued during the Satyam scandal. “At that time,only the Ministry of Corporate Affairs was asked to make official statements on the Satyam issue,” officials said,adding it was done after the IT Ministry gave out contradictory views. The different positions had then adversely impacted prices of Satyam shares.

To avoid such differing voices emanating from the government,recently a decision was taken to set up an empowered committee comprising the Union Home Minister,I&B Minister,Cabinet Secretary,Home Secretary as well as the media advisor to the Prime Minister that would decide on media briefings with only one version coming out.

Officials,however,said the panel would become operational specifically during situations like famines and medical emergencies.