As the NDA government examines the Tamil Nadu government’s plea seeking the release of those linked to the assassination of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Fri
As the NDA government examines the Tamil Nadu government’s plea seeking the release of those linked to the assassination of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Friday once again reiterated that the apex court has already given its decision on the matter and now it is the constitutional and moral responsibility of the government to abide by the decision of the apex court.
When asked if the MHA has sought a legal opinion on the issue, Union home secretary Rajiv Mehrishi said the MHA may seek the law ministry view or the opinion of the attorney-general on the issue if required. “The matter is still being examined. If any need arises, a legal opinion may be sought,” he said speaking the the MHA’s press conference on the Union Budget allocation to the ministry.
The home minister said the ministry has got the highest gross allocation of funds in budget. He said the total budget allocation for 2016-17 for the home ministry is Rs 77,923.12 crore while budget allocation in 2015-16 was Rs 68,924.10 crore. The police modernisation scheme, which was junked last year in the Union Budget with zero allocation to it, has been revived this year bringing good news for the home ministry. The scheme aims at making MHA the nodal authority to oversee modernisation of police forces across the country. Mr Singh said the state governments will be happy with the move as they had protested against the zero fund alloction during last year’s budget. Asked about allocation of Rs 2,119.88 crore under the head “research”, Mr Mehrishi refused to disclose details saying “it is not necessary to reveal every fact”.
Amidst the contradictory reports over number of terrorists attacking the Pathankot airbase, the government said charred remains, apart from four bodies of terrorists, were found at the debris after security forces searched the spot when the operation ended.
“Charred remains were found and sent for forensic examination. We are awaiting for reports,” Singh said at the press conference.
While NSG, which carried out the operation against the terrorists, has said there were six terrorists, the NIA, which has been probing the case has maintained that they found the bodies of four terrorists and yet to come conclusive evidence about any more terrorist was involved in the attack.
Union home secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, who was also present at the press meet, said enhanced security will be provided along the Indo-Pak border, which was breached by terrorists from across the border and carried out the recent attack on the Pathankot airbase.
“We need to do more than just fencing. Experience of fencing is at best. But Fencing is not an end to itself,” He was replying to a question about the security along the Indo-Pak border, particularly in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir.
Meanwhile, when asked about the jat agitation in Haryana, Singh said, “Whatever the state government had to do, they did,” he said virually approving the steps taken by the Manohar Khattar government to control the violence. Singh, however, refused to comment on allegations of rape and molestation by Jat quota agitators near an eatery in Murthal on Delhi-Ambala highway, saying, “Law and order is a state subject.”
