Zeenews Bureau
New Delhi: Outgoing National Security Advisor MK Narayanan will be replaced by former Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon and he will hold a post equivalent to the Minister of State.
The change in the rank comes after much debate within the Government about restructuring the NSA profile.
This shift in emphasis has been necessitated after Home Minister P. Chidambaram unveiled a series of measures for revamping the country`s internal security architecture last month, indicating that he would be the internal security czar.
Menon was Prime Minister Manmohan Singh`s first preference. He has served as Ambassador to China, Pakistan, Israel and Sri Lanka, had played a crucial role, along in accomplishing the India-US nuclear deal. He was appointed Foreign Secretary in September 2006 superseding 16 claimants to the job.
M.K. Narayanan, a former Intelligence Bureau chief who has now been appointed West Bengal Governor, has been holding the prime post in the country`s security apparatus since January 2005. He exercised all functions relating to external and internal security and intelligence coordination.
The three major changes proposed by Chidambaram relate to making the home ministry exclusively responsible for the management of internal security similar to the US Department of Homeland Security and the creation of a National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC) by the end of the year.
Home ministry officials said all intelligence agencies will be brought under one roof and will report to the NCTC chief who will be a thorough professional, possibly designated director of national intelligence.
I am humbled: Menon
Menon said he was "humbled" by the big responsibility bestowed on him and would do his best in the new job.
"Well, I am humbled and very conscious that it is a big
responsibility and I will do my best," he said in his first
reaction after being appointed to the coveted post.
"For rest of the substance, I think you will have to
let me take over," Menon said.
-Agencies inputs
