The price of delay

As the siege on Mumbai ended, Home Ministry officials were drawing up plans to have NSG units stationed at key cities across India. Massive expenditure will go in now to upgrade the NSG, its equipment profile and quick response abilities. What is not known is that this is no new brainwave 8212; it was envisaged more than two decades ago when the NSG was formed by Rajiv Gandhi. He had rejected all piecemeal efforts like expanding the role of an existing force, but took the leap forward and decided to set up a completely new crack commando unit. The second phase of the plan was to have NSG units in all four metros. Unfortunately, successive governments never okayed that decision. It has taken more than 20 years, and the worst terror attack on India, for the Centre to sanction this plan. Had there been NSG presence in Mumbai, response would have several hours quicker, rue former NSG officials.