BJP poll strategy meet: Why NSA Ajit Doval didn't break any conduct
For the past few days, national security advisor Ajit Doval’s alleged presence at a meeting held at the residence of Union home minister Rajnath Singh has caused a storm in India’s political teacup. The two, along with other BJP members, are believed to have discussed strategies for the upcoming elections in Tripura. The Communist Party Marxist (CPM) has accused that BJP of violating all norms by engaging the NSA for political purposes.
CPIM Tripura State Secretary's letter to CEC seeking an enquiry into the BJP-RSS meeting at the residence of @rajnathsingh to discuss strategy for the upcoming elections, in which National Security Advisor Ajit Doval participated, violating norms.https://t.co/3Xe4gduARd
— CPI (M) (@cpimspeak) January 16, 2018
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs has issued a quick clarification. Through a press release, the government has stated that the NSA participated in a regular security briefing that day- calling it “a routine exercise”.
Even if the NSA was at the meeting, the MHA need not necessarily have issued a clarification. The country's National Security Advisor, being the fulcrum of all security-related activities, can attend all meetings, if needed. Tripura being a sensitive state surely deserves the involvement of the present NSA, who has not only served in the Northeast as an Intelligence Bureau (IB) functionary, but also understands the nuances of security implications in the the region - elections or no elections.
Having said this, I don’t imply that he was present at the meeting at the home minister’s residence as I am not privy to such information. Yet, I don’t see anything blatantly wrong even if he was actually present.
There is an unwritten code as part of the mandate of high government functionaries. They often step in to offer their expertise to those governing - to help achieve better and effective coordination.
It can be safely assumed that a number of civil servants carrying a specific charter of responsibilities use their good offices to help their political bosses. These are administrative, occupational and “unavoidable” hazards and have been in practice for long. No one goes by the rule book or conventions. It’s a practical and functional requirement, security or non security.
Without making the issue murkier or more controversial, I wish to share an anecdote dating back to 1988.
The All India Congress Committee (AICC) annual session was being held in Maraimalai Nagar in the Kancheepuram district. Rajiv Gandhi was the prime minister then and there were many high profile party leaders, both from New Delhi and Chennai, at the meet. The conference was wrapped up after three days and we could notice some unease while a resolution was being drafted. A very senior IAS officer, then working in the PMO, helped the party workers finalise that resolution. Possibly, he gave the finishing touches to the economic segment of the resolution. This civil servant was brilliant and there should not be any reservation in seeking the intellect and brilliance of an officer in the larger interest of the country’s well-being.
Moreover, civil servants often view things through an apolitical angle and thereby bring in a different perspective. The application of their mind is in accordance with the state policies.
Recently, Prime Minister Modi's principal secretary Nripendra Misra going to meet the chief justice of India at the latter’s residence drew criticism from certain quarters. There was nothing essentially wrong in his attempts (though aborted later) to help resolve the ongoing crisis in judiciary. Civil service aides do intervene, in the positive sense of the term, to tide over imbroglios that may emerge. Their dexterous qualities of negotiations, acquired from long years of public service, make their contributions valuable and relevant.
It’s not impertinent to state that Misra had been the personal secretary to then Uttar Pradesh chief minister Kalyan Singh for many years and he must have handled many complex situations in a difficult state like UP.
The presence of an NSA at an alleged party meeting is perhaps being blown out of proportion. There are larger, more pressing national issues that are of critical concern and deserve immediate redressal - the confluence of two arms of the executive is not worthy of a controversy.