Chidambaram has his way as National Intelligence Grid gets PM’s okay

India will soon have an umbrella organisation of investigating agencies to provide quick-time response to the demand for information on suspected terrorists and offenders of the law. The National Intelligence Grid (NatGrid), a centralised data system, according to sources, has received the green signal from prime minister Manmohan Singh. The official announcement on its formation is expected in a couple of days.

NatGrid, brain-child of Union home minister P Chidambaram, will help cut down time consumed in collating data — it takes months normally — from several agencies of the government. After the creation of the National Investigating Agency (NIA) to coordinate and act on intelligence inputs on terror, this is Chidambaram’s second significant step towards an organised approach to deal with terrorist activities.

According to informed sources, the data with 21 agencies and departments of government will now be forwarded to the NatGrid for integration. The data will include Pan card, voter ID card and ration card details, income tax returns, degrees obtained from schools and colleges, bank account numbers, financial transactions, travel documents, passport details, police stations and jails across the country among others.

The cabinet committee on security (CCS) headed by the prime minister is understood to have cleared the proposal despite serious reservations expressed by the ministries of finance and defence.

Sources say finance minister Pranab Mukherjee objected to the proposal of NatGrid on the grounds that it will violate the privacy law. Defence minister AK Antony reportedly expressed reservations contending that the system of Joint Intelligence Committee, where all top notch intelligence agencies share information, was working satisfactorily; hence there was no need for a new body.

Chidambaram has been insisting on the creation of NatGrid on the grounds that a centralised data system is essential to fight terrorism and crimes in the country. A large number of investigating agencies, including Research & Analysis Wing (RAW), Intelligence Bureau, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Narcotics Control Bureau, Enforcement Directorate, Central Bureau of Investigation, Military, Air & Naval Intelligence, Customs, Directorate of Income Tax (investigation), and state police agencies have loads of information with them. However, there is no umbrella organisation to maintain centralised data. It takes weeks, if not months, to cull information.

“The NatGrid will provide a system of information to all the agencies about any person the moment a button is pressed,” he argued at the CCS meeting. Chidambaram managed to convince his cabinet colleagues that creation of NatGrid will go a long way in fighting terrorism. He argued that the country cannot pay the price in the name of privacy.

According to sources, the prime minister was convinced that such an agency will help security and intelligence agency in achieving the goals set to fight terror and reduce time taken to track criminals.

After NatGrid, Chidambaram’s next mission is to create the National Counter Terrorism Council (NCTC), an umbrella body to fight terror.