The 1971 war was the finest moment for India’s defence and security establishment — intelligence and accountability saved lives. Now errant officers get promotions.
Intelligence agencies are keen to interrogate Mohammad Zubair about the al Qaeda as well as his brother, who had travelled to Yemen in 2009 to meet key members of the terror group.
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal hailed the bravery of the late Intelligence Bureau officer Ankit Sharma and announced a govt job for one person of his family.
Officials from Intelligence Bureau, RAW, ED and I-T department have been mandated to work with agriculture and consumer affairs ministries to check onion prices.
Madhav Godbole, who was Union home secretary at the time, writes how Intelligence Bureau paid little attention to Hindu organisations’ activities till then.
Peter Manuel's ‘Cassette Culture’ showed the booming Bhakti music during the '80s and '90s when Anoop Jalota, Gulshan Kumar achieved success by singing the sanitised Bhajans.
Economists say there are weaknesses in India’s GDP data. But statisticians claim the accusations are based on flawed understanding, saying while GDP has problems, the economists are looking in the wrong places.
The crafty bureaucracy under the uneducated corrupt politicians have created a system that will ensure no accountability. The jacks of all trades have projected themselves as the masters of all trades. To think of a Policeman leading a PARA MILITARY force on a limited tenure is unthinkable but it does happen.
Just as only an honest politician can fix the political system, only an honest Babu cab cleanup the Babudom.
Bang on, I totally agree with your article. I’m an ex Indian Naval Officer and this is absolutely true that on the basis of accountability and responsibilities officers and jawans had to face court of inquiries which further led to their loss of seniority, loss of promotion and even relinquishing of service. Military guys are trained with ethos which is being inserted deeply into their body and aptitude right from the academy times. We know how military works. However the important agenda which you have raised related to civil organisation is absolutely need of the hour. My father had served in Border Security Force and even dealt with terrorists during Kashmir militancy, he always used to say that paramilitary should be led by its own cadre officer like military, the day it happen, forget about Chhattisgarh, Kashmir will also get cleaned. I’m not against IPS cadre, we have too many brave officers in this esteemed service but it’s high time now IPS team should lead the internal police forces and get them in shape. Let BSF, CRPF, CISF and SSB to lead with their own cadre who will directly report to Home minister, and make home minister so important post that on single attack he or she(future no body knows who holds it) should remain on his/her toes along with our paramilitary forces. It’s time now to start having joint military and paramilitary exercises. Think about it don’t live in denial and stop giving importance to only IPS and IAS cadre. Make them accountable and make them resign if they are unable to put a stop including that ministerial chair. Jai hind
Mr. Philip, you have a wonderful thinking style. On an article on the clueless CRPF you insist on talking about the military, the IB, Kao, Nair. I wonder why you also did not talk about the sun and the moon and the stars and Amitabh Bacchan and Nehru and Justice Katju. It would have shown that you have a truly wide perspective.
Spot-on. Responsibility, Accountability and reward / punishment is a must in case of Bureaucracy, which is the worst stumbling block to the country’s progress into 21st century. IAS, IPS just merrily carry on with their ego-trips & corruption without any fear. March-April 2021 happenings are a live recent example of TOTALLY COMPROMISED & CORRUPTED BUREAUCRATS.
The author doesn’t talk about the politicians to be accountable to the people, for their actions. In fact if the politicians become accountable, they will also ensure the bureaucracy become accountable. Accountability starts from the politicians/ministers and goes down the line. Further lack of accountability is not the only factor that is killing our intelligence agencies. Mediocrity in selection of top officers, combined with quota/reservation produce senior officers only of mediocre standard. Further, job security irrespective of competency/efficiency kills all initiative to perform at their best.
There is a very interesting trick used by journalists – in order to dilute the follies of the IPS, they very conveniently add the intelligence and military to the topic.
Of the national security organizations, the military is the only one which regularly and strictly holds its personnel accountable for..
The article should restrict itself to the issue at hand – lack of accountability in the IPS.
Absolutely true, Philip. All public servants and public services including the media have to take responsibility for whatever!
I am generalizing as this article also generalizes. Else this is an elaborate and important subject, that has been neglected for decades, to be debated ad nauseum by the powers that be.
Accountability is directly proportional to responsibility, in these circumstances direct and enabling authority and provision (availability) of matching resources. Without elaborating let me just say, you can’t just put a boxer in the ring with his hands tied expect him/her to knockout the opponent.
Tailpiece: Piecemeal discussions do not convey the whole picture. These are issues not confined only to pulling the trigger.
The crafty bureaucracy under the uneducated corrupt politicians have created a system that will ensure no accountability. The jacks of all trades have projected themselves as the masters of all trades. To think of a Policeman leading a PARA MILITARY force on a limited tenure is unthinkable but it does happen.
Just as only an honest politician can fix the political system, only an honest Babu cab cleanup the Babudom.
Wishful thinking Ina country that worships its bureaucrats and IPS. At least armed forces have some accountability.
Bang on, I totally agree with your article. I’m an ex Indian Naval Officer and this is absolutely true that on the basis of accountability and responsibilities officers and jawans had to face court of inquiries which further led to their loss of seniority, loss of promotion and even relinquishing of service. Military guys are trained with ethos which is being inserted deeply into their body and aptitude right from the academy times. We know how military works. However the important agenda which you have raised related to civil organisation is absolutely need of the hour. My father had served in Border Security Force and even dealt with terrorists during Kashmir militancy, he always used to say that paramilitary should be led by its own cadre officer like military, the day it happen, forget about Chhattisgarh, Kashmir will also get cleaned. I’m not against IPS cadre, we have too many brave officers in this esteemed service but it’s high time now IPS team should lead the internal police forces and get them in shape. Let BSF, CRPF, CISF and SSB to lead with their own cadre who will directly report to Home minister, and make home minister so important post that on single attack he or she(future no body knows who holds it) should remain on his/her toes along with our paramilitary forces. It’s time now to start having joint military and paramilitary exercises. Think about it don’t live in denial and stop giving importance to only IPS and IAS cadre. Make them accountable and make them resign if they are unable to put a stop including that ministerial chair. Jai hind
Mr. Philip, you have a wonderful thinking style. On an article on the clueless CRPF you insist on talking about the military, the IB, Kao, Nair. I wonder why you also did not talk about the sun and the moon and the stars and Amitabh Bacchan and Nehru and Justice Katju. It would have shown that you have a truly wide perspective.
Spot-on. Responsibility, Accountability and reward / punishment is a must in case of Bureaucracy, which is the worst stumbling block to the country’s progress into 21st century. IAS, IPS just merrily carry on with their ego-trips & corruption without any fear. March-April 2021 happenings are a live recent example of TOTALLY COMPROMISED & CORRUPTED BUREAUCRATS.
The author doesn’t talk about the politicians to be accountable to the people, for their actions. In fact if the politicians become accountable, they will also ensure the bureaucracy become accountable. Accountability starts from the politicians/ministers and goes down the line. Further lack of accountability is not the only factor that is killing our intelligence agencies. Mediocrity in selection of top officers, combined with quota/reservation produce senior officers only of mediocre standard. Further, job security irrespective of competency/efficiency kills all initiative to perform at their best.
There is a very interesting trick used by journalists – in order to dilute the follies of the IPS, they very conveniently add the intelligence and military to the topic.
Of the national security organizations, the military is the only one which regularly and strictly holds its personnel accountable for..
The article should restrict itself to the issue at hand – lack of accountability in the IPS.
Absolutely true, Philip. All public servants and public services including the media have to take responsibility for whatever!
I am generalizing as this article also generalizes. Else this is an elaborate and important subject, that has been neglected for decades, to be debated ad nauseum by the powers that be.
Accountability is directly proportional to responsibility, in these circumstances direct and enabling authority and provision (availability) of matching resources. Without elaborating let me just say, you can’t just put a boxer in the ring with his hands tied expect him/her to knockout the opponent.
Tailpiece: Piecemeal discussions do not convey the whole picture. These are issues not confined only to pulling the trigger.