Clear focus: Ashok Chavan, chief minister of Maharashtra
The clear five-year mandate that Maharashtra has gifted the Democratic Front coalition may have given chief minister Ashok Chavan a sense of comfort, but he is also aware that it thrusts greater responsibility on his shoulders. In an exclusive interview with DNA, he said politics will take a back seat and the focus will be squarely on administration. Excerpts:
How prepared are we to tackle a terrorist attack a year after 26/11?
We have taken major strides to strengthen our coordination, plug the sensitive coastal stretches, and improve the intelligence network. Apart from setting up a task force for specialised training of the police on the lines of the National Security Guards, we have invested almost Rs200 crore to upgrade their weapons and monitoring gadgets. I am not claiming that we have completed the work. There is still a lot of scope to scale up the security plans.
Are you ready to say that security in Mumbai/Maharashtra is foolproof now?
Even a bullet-proof vest is not foolproof. If you fire a bullet from close range, it will pierce through the vest. But I can state with certainty that great effort has been made to sensitise security and improve alertness across the state in the past 10 months. We are better prepared to face any crisis.
The Ram Pradhan committee’s report had stated that there was a complete failure of intelligence during 26/11.
We have taken note of the report and also taken corrective measures. Apart from policing, we have to find ways to beat the threat of global terrorism through modern methods, both in strategy and equipment. We are getting guidelines from the Centre. The government of India has also taken steps to ensure better coordination among RAW [the Research and Analysis Wing], IB [the Intelligence Bureau], and the home ministry.
The aftermath of 26/11 has exposed serious factionalism within the police. What is your message for the quarrelling police officers?
Work as a team. There is no room for personal likes and dislikes as they don't matter to anybody. What will matter is the ability to take the right decisions and deliver. I want to state clearly that every single police officer will be judged on performance. It is high time everybody realises that we are confronted with unprecedented challenges on security and nobody can afford to lower his guard. Officers will have to keep aside their differences and prejudices and work in singleminded fashion for the security of the state.
But how can they be neutral when political masters handpick top police officers to serve their own agendas?
Ever since I took charge after 26/11, I have ensured that merit alone is the criterion for top police postings. I can state with full responsibility that politics will not take precedence over merit when it comes to the appointment of top police officers.
Does this apply to the appointment of the director-general of police as well?
Of course. We have a committee which was constituted after I took charge in my first tenure. It will short-list the probable names along with suggestions and objections. A formal decision will be taken only after studying the committee’s observations.
In the past we saw that RR Patil’s thrust as home minister was more on policing the morals of citizens. Security was secondary...
I don't want to comment on my colleague. I can say with confidence that the primary job of every policeman in the state is security. There cannot be any compromise on security. I am aware that there are social issues which also need police intervention. I am going to discuss these issues with RR Patil to see how to cope with all these factors, whether we can install more hi-tech gadgets in some areas to ensure that manpower is not wasted.
Before the elections you had said openly that the home department should remain with the chief minister of the state.
Yes. But that is a closed chapter for me now as we have already allotted the portfolio to RR Patil [of the Nationalist Congress Party].
But as chief minister, do you feel constrained in taking policy decisions relating to the home department?
Not really. As head of the state government, it is my responsibility to ensure that every department, including home, works effectively. Yet, in coalition politics, certain parameters have to be adhered to. I don't like to interfere with anybody's department. But as head of the government I can always hold discussions with the home minister on any subject relating to his ministry. If there are some disputes or problems, I can always speak to RR Patil and amicably resolve them. I can intervene when required.
How do you plan to tackle the political challenge posed by the Shiv Sena and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena?
Whether it is Raj [Thackeray] or anybody else, we will deal with them with an iron hand. Ugly violence in the name of politics cannot continue in Maharashtra. The police has been clearly directed to take stern action against anyone violating the law.
But it is widely believed that the MNS is a creation of the Congress.
That is not true. There is no dilemma before me. My thought process is very clear. I am determined to rein in elements which indulge in vandalism and divisive politics. I am confident of handling them.
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