The last 48 hours emerged as a rude shocker to
everyone in our country with the leading intelligence agency of the country
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) getting embroiled in an ugly backlash
within its four walls! When two of its most senior officials decided to go out
at each other and worse still, made it public. It also opened the pandora’s box
yet again on the question that has done its multiple rounds over the last many
years, rather decades. Is CBI merely a pigeon of the Govt. Does the ruling party unobtrusively use CBI
to address its political agendas?
When the vanguard of
the nation stirs up such a controversy, it is bound to raise questions but then
does every question have an answer in black and white. Should CBI and other
intelligence agencies like RAW, IB, NIA, MAC, NTRO,
DIA to name a few, really be absolved of Govt interference and be allowed to
operate on their own or maybe as a well-coordinated ecosystem.
While CBI is a Government of India agency with the
primary function of intelligence gathering in specially in cases w.r.t
financial security, or against breach of central law, big cases of fraud etc., the
other agencies, mentioned above, are primarily responsible for internal and
external security against enemies of the nation, willing to hold arms be it
internal or external; espionage and counter espionage.
It is important to give the above context to try and answer
the question raised above - Should CBI and other intelligence agencies be absolved of Govt interference and be allowed to operate
on their own. But it poses an important problem – if not Govt, then who does it
answer to?
The intelligence community has to answer to the Executive
body rather than judiciary or other arms of governance. Simply because all the
issues, these agencies are fighting against, need an EXECUTIVE DECISION and
often at a regular intervals.
So, what about accountability? How do we ensure that? In most
of the western world incl US, there are parliamentary committees and so do we.
These committees can be more watchful without becoming interfering in the day
to day operations. It should get representation from politicians and
non-politicians alike. The accountability
has be manifest in the end result and process without getting into the nitty
gritties.
Love them or hate them, it is a fact that in India, just
like other democratic countries, it is the politician who calls the shot. It is
the Politician, at the ruling end of the spectrum, who is answerable to the
public every5 years. They are the face of the country-its global image
managers. And, unwittingly, these people have to be involved at some point or other.
Some one has to take the calls. Some one has to initiate
the process. And it has to be the
Government. They have to unleash and yet reign in the intelligence community as
situation demands. There has to be mutual respect between Govt and these
agencies.
A fair robust system has to be brought in place and the
redundant rules and acts governing the workings of these committees have to be
replaced with more contemporarily relevant ones.
This article does not intend to go in the past an rake up old issues like Fmr CBI Director Joginder Singh being sacked or CBI used by UPA Govt and other Governments for their multiple aims including bringing opposing politicians to actually support them. This article raises a demand for a solution! Similar observations have been made in other countries too esp US where often FBI has been looked upon as an agency working for the Government.
In contemporary history, one politician, otherwise ruthless,
cunning and perhaps sly, but who had a great rapport with intelligence
community was Winston Churchill. He managed a balance…equilibrium.
World War II was not merely won by the brave forces but
also by the intelligence work. Same has been the story in every war ever since.
And in today’s era of war with invisible forces hiding behind multiple
curtains, terrorists, naxalites the intelligence community needs an “engagement”
and “not involvement” with Govt. machinery. It will create balance.
We have the example of ISI which is a force let loose
simply because there has been no engagement with Govt there. It works on its
own. Can we look at the same type of model and raise a Frankenstein. NO. so let’s
stop asking the Govt to stop playing a role…rather lets ask both the agencies and the Government to play an
engaging role to rightfully ally with these agencies.
