A Natural Calamity

"If something of this nature happens, each one of us...are sorry and at times we feel it could have been better if we were able to avert it—it could have been done, it would have been better."
—Union home minister Shivraj Patil, August 10, '08

For four years, the Union home minister—possibly the most important post after that of the PM—has remained the weakest link in the UPA government. Four months into their term in '04, he alienated even aphc moderates like Mirwaiz Umer Farooq who, at the time, was selling the "unconditional talks" line in the Valley. He did this by stressing that any talks would have to be "within the four walls of the Constitution". The initiative was promptly seized upon by the pro-Pakistan hawks. Ironically, it has taken the current mess to unite both factions into taking a hard line.

Patil followed this up with his clumsy handling of the Manipur situation following the Manorama Devi rape case. Again, in 2006, Patil fell into the RSS trap by promoting the construction of an air-conditioned, bullet-proof enclosure around the makeshift temple in Ayodhya, shortly after a terror attack there. Eventually, the Congress leadership stepped in when it realised that a permanent structure would disturb the status quo, give the Ramjanmabhoomi lobby leverage in the yet-to-be decided case. In Chhattisgarh, the Union home ministry promoted the creation of the Salwa Judum, compelling innocent tribals, rather than the police, to battle the Maoists. The policy continues despite the SC's adverse observations.

The Union home ministry has also been found wanting in the handling of terrorism. One, there are simply not enough men on the ground. Two, the state intelligence set-ups are poor. Three, the current laws, officials say, need to be strengthened, not merely to arm the police but also to act as a deterrent, to demonstrate "the will of the state".

If the government is to tackle the host of internal security issues, the home minister must provide "inspirational leadership", and create a political consensus that brings the Centre and states together. Patil has been found wanting on both counts.