Patil soft pedals ISI role in Assam violence

The ongoing process of normalisation of relations between India and Pakistan prevented Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil from publicly endorsing the assertion of Director-General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) JK Sinha that it was the Pakistan-based Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) that was responsible for disturbances in the north east. All Patil could tell reporters that it was pointless blaming another country for India's problems.

"It does not mean we are giving a clean chit. Neither we are complaining. We know the reality, everybody knows the reality and steps will be taken accordingly", Patil told reporters at a press conference near Bhopal after inaugurating the 12th anniversary celebrations of Rapid Action Force.

When asked about the security scenario in the region in the wake of blasts in Assam and Nagaland, he said "it would be wrong to say that the situation is normal in the North-east, but a big country like is capable enough to deal with it".

Patil also shielded US Ambassador to India David C Mulford from criticism in the wake of his letter offering the FBI help in investigating the Assam blasts.

"The US ambassador has expressed his sentiments and one should understand the basic emotions behind it while interpreting it," he said.

About reports of the presence of insurgent camps in Myanmar and Bangladesh, he said "the government has been discussing the issue with both countries. Concern is being conveyed".

Patil's unemphatic comments reflected the government's desire to appear to chart out a different home policy from the previous government's.

While the BJP-led NDA government was clear that there was no room for a light touch in dealing with militants, this government first repealed the Prevention of Terrorism Act and then revealed a civil liberties bias as it tried to mount a campaign to prevent insurgency from escalating in the North-east.

The UPA government has been inundated from petitions from the Armed Forces, urging the Home Ministry not to succumb to pressure and with the Armed Forces Special Powers Act from Manipur or any other north eastern state because similar demands would be raised from Kashmir, crippling military and paramilitary operations.

"The government expects the Army to do a job. If it does not give the army powers to protect itself, it should not ask them to conduct counterinsurgency operations. The Army is meant to be at the borders, in any case. It is hard for us to mount counterinsurgency campaigns if we have nothing to protect ourselves with" top Army sources said, adding this view had been conveyed to the Union home minister.

The Army won a battle against its civilian masters recently when the government permitted the Army to file a writ petition in the Th Manorama rape case.

The Army is seeking a DNA test on the basis of semen found on Manorama's clothes and more than 30 personnel belonging to the Assam Rifles who are alleged to have raped Manorama and killed her, have already submitted their blood for DNA testing.

The state government, for reasons best known to it, is opposed to a DNA test. Similarly, in other parts of the North-east, the UPA government is trying to maintain a balance between civil rights and military and paramilitary forces.