NEW DELHI: The 19day long suspense created by the tussle between the Home Minister, S.B.Chavan, and his colleague, Rajesh Pilot, over allocation of work finally ended on Feb.4 with the latter being designated as the Minister of State for Internal Security in charge of paramilitary forces and the sensitive states of Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir.
According to a fresh work reallocation order, Chayan retains the overall charge of the Ministry. Pilot does not get independent charge but has been compensated by being given all prestigious assignments which to begin with were given to the other Minister of State, P.M.Sayed. Sayeed has now been made Minister of State in charge of states.
The work reallocation proved Pilot’s point that he deserved a better deal having held independent charge of ministries earlier. His protest against the original allocation has apparently been upheld by the Prime Minister, p.V.Narasimha Rao, who as a measure of procedural property left it to Chavan to reallot the work in his name. Chavan was not available for his comments. Pilot appeared happy, praised Chavan describing him as a senior colleague and said that Punjab, Assam, Kashmir and communal harmony would continue to be the topmost priorities of the Ministry. Sayeed, who is the worst sufferer, is still on a tour of his Parliamentary constituency of Lakshadweep. Pilot would hold charge of, among other portfolios, matters relating to states under President’s rule, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Border Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force, Central Industrial Security Force, National Security Guards, Indo-Tibetan Borders Police, matters relating to Article 371 of the Constitutions and the National Police Academy.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 12, 1993
