No security can be foolproof, says Maharashtra CM

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.

As the state’s chief administrator, are you going to be like a strict headmaster?
Yes. In my first tenure of nine months I had to face two major elections [to the Lok Sabha and the Vidhan Sabha]. It was like going through an examination phase. I got very little time for administration. Now, as the government has got a full five-year term, it will be my endeavour to focus on long- and short-term policies in key sectors like education, health, energy, and home.

Do you think the NCP ministers will demand greater autonomy?
It's team work. Whether Congress or NCP, every minister has to be accountable and responsible towards the work. There are no problems with any of my cabinet colleagues.

You are not going to hold back files sent by NCP ministers?
I have never tried to play politics by holding back anyone’s files. The instances that were referred to in the past [public works minister Chhagan Bhujbal’s proposal to redevelop the Mantralaya precinct was held up by the chief minister] relate to decisions that I thought required more discussion.

Are you going to inculcate discipline among your ministers?
I have told all the ministers not to bring any file to me at the eleventh hour for clearance. I have suggested that every file should be placed before me for thorough scrutiny and discussion at least four days in advance. I am serious about this as it gives us time to decide which proposals are worth implementing.

Prime minister Manmohan Singh has asked his Union ministers to send him reports about the work done in their departments.
I am glad the prime minister has taken the initiative. If it works at the Centre, I am open to implement it in Maharashtra. In any case we have to regularly monitor the progress in every department.

In your plan for the next five years, you talk of an investment of Rs2,50,000 crore in the state? How realistic is this target?
It is achievable. We are also taking into account the investments that will come through the large number of special economic zones (SEZs). We have 141 SEZs.

But the biggest SEZ, owned by Mukesh Ambani in Raigad, has run into trouble.
It is an open-ended issue, which will be scrutinised again before a final decision is arrived at. I won’t say it has been shelved permanently.

But with political violence, is the climate conducive for investments in Maharashtra?
We are among the most favoured destinations for industrial investment in the country. The violence driven by regional groups cannot and will not be allowed to mar the state’s development.

Your aam aadmi is still struggling for dal roti? How do you propose to check inflation?
It is indeed a matter of great concern. We have streamlined the public distribution system where essential commodities are available at subsidised prices. But I must admit I cannot control the open market. The government is incurring a loss of Rs140 crore to subsidise food sold through ration shops. If I were to subside dal, sugar, and oil in the open market, the loss would run to Rs1,000 crore a month. We just cannot afford it.