Govt keen on revamp of planning, security panels

Several times, the Opposition and those involved in national security matters have pointed out that the chairman of the NSC, i.e. the Prime Minister, is extremely busy and cannot cope with its day-today functioning. Similarly, National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra also holds other key positions in the Government. The idea, then, is that Pant be brought in as deputy chairman of the NSC to be able to coordinate security-related matters and assist the Prime Minister. Pant has served as Defence minister in past Congress regimes.

Besides, the Government is also keen to find a place for M. Rajashekhar Murthy, a senior Karnataka Congress leader who recently joined the BJP. He too has vast experience in both planning and finance. Though Murthy can be brought to the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka, the party feels it would be better to bring in B.S. Yediyurappa, president of the BJP’s Karnataka unit, to the Upper House.

If Pant refuses to accept the NSC post and he is said to be unwilling to move out of the Planning Commission he could be inducted as chairman of the Indo-British Forum with Cabinet rank. Lok Shakti leader Ramakrishna Hegde, who was peeved at not being inducted into the Union Cabinet, has already consented to head the Indo-French Forum after some persuasion from the Prime Minister that this would help maintain harmony in the National Democratic Alliance. The name of I.P. Singh, a former diplomat who recently joined the BJP, is also being floated as head of the Indo-German Forum, also with Cabinet rank.

Pant is said to have already conveyed his reluctance to BJP leaders but the party remains keen on bringing in someone who can orient the Planning Commission according to the party’s ideology.

The Government is also in the process of appointing a new chairman, deputy chairman and five members to the Minority Commission. While chairman Tahir Mohammad retired on November 25 this year, the last serving member retired on December 11. The post of chairman is likely to got a retired Muslim judge of the Supreme Court or a high court.

Instead of inducting a serving or retired politician, the Prime Minister is said to be keen that a person from the judiciary be brought in to head the Commission.

Tarlochan Singh, a member of the BJP’s media team, is being sounded for the post of the Commission’s deputy chairperson. S.S. Ahluwalia, who quit the Congress to join the BJP, has already declined to accept the post.