National security under threat with separate Telangana?

After the issue of State bifurcation became merely political and completely a private affair of Congress party, a vital aspect of prime concern- ‘national security’, is absolutely ignored.

When issue of separate statehood to Telangana came to debate in recent times, the advisers on national security in PMO foresaw the inevitability of Naxals resurgence in the new state and it seems the biggest challenge confronting the security agencies.
Hyderabad is a hub of very important defence establishments like Nuclear Fuel Complex (NFC), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and its sister wings like DRDL, DMRL and DLRL, Midhani and Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL). The city is also a focal point with the possession of scientific and research institutions such as Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT), Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Electronics Corporation of India Ltd (ECIL), Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL), Research Centre Imarat (RCI), besides Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL).
Crucial among them is Research Centre Imarat (RCI). It was known to be established to preserve the fruits of the immeasurable contributions made by pioneers of Indian nuclear and missile technology, Homi Baba, Vikram Sarabhai, Ayyagari Sambasiva Rao (Dr AS Rao of ECIL Hyderabad). Considered being a leader in missile technologies, RCI was established in 1988 by Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. After a thorough survey for a safe place throughout the country, Hyderabad was chosen to be the safest. Spread in a huge area of 2000 acres at Vignyana Kancha in Shamshabad mandal, RCI is very sensitive wing of India’s Defense Research and is also playing a key role in India’s next-generation missile programmes. At present, RCI is involved  in Air Defense Systems (ADS) and the Agni-V long-range strategic missile. The lab is active in the demonstration of ADS with over five launches so far.

Chandrababu Naidu, the biggest threat!

Owing to the importance of the defence establishments, the experts are consistently cautioning not to allow satellite imageries taken from high-resolution cameras. It is apprehended that the data posted on security, space and weapon-related issues naturally gives the terrorists a clear conception.

During his tenure, Chandrababu Naidu was caught for assisting the US administration breach India’s security. The AP government contracted with a US firm, Space Imaging Inc., for mapping through satellite without informing the Defence ministry.

The ministry took objection only when the issue of US operations of surveillance in connivance with Naidu got exposed in the Rajya Sabha. But, by the time the contract was cancelled, ‘Space Imaging’ had already passed on satellite pictures of sensitive defence installations to the Pentagon.

Naidu’s consent to the GMR’s international airport’s basic plan is also a point of concern. Experts of national security had apprehensions on allowing Novotel hotel in Shamshabad Airport premises, which is within a 2-KM radius of RCI. According to sources, the intelligence wings of India find it difficult to be always vigilant on the guests of Novotel at Shamshabad Airport. It was also suspected that the US and Israel  diplomatic echelons, officials of their intelligence including FBI, CIA find their berth in Novotel, which could provide a comfortable pedestal for hawking eye.

A new threat from Naxals

The apprehensions of the experts on National security were reinforced after seizing of some important documents of the proceedings of the 4th Central Committee meeting of CPI (Maoist). It was understood that the left wing extremists were more eager on the formation of Telangana. The majority of ‘vulnerable’ districts notified under the security related expenditure scheme of Union Ministry of Home Affairs, is in Telangana. Adilabad, Karimnagar, Khammam, Mahaboobnagar, Medak, Nalgonda, Nizamabad and Warangal are eight of the 10 districts in the proposed separate State.

Srikrishna report in 2011 had said that the state, if formed, will become an epicenter for Maoist violence. According to the fresh assessment of the security agencies, the consequences to the separate statehood to Telangana would be worse than creation of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand from Madhya Pradesh and Bihar. Large areas of these two states are under the control and command of the naxals. Elected governments are unable to penetrate the web laid out by the naxals, who run a parallel government.

But in separate Telangana, Naxals may emerge victorious in their dream of capturing cities, particularly Hyderabad, a hub of most crucial defence establishments. Geographical proximity of Hyderabad to the naxal-prone zones is also another point of concern. Once the defence institutions go into their control, it is also feared the Chinese intrusion in the lines of a repetition of Prachanda formula of Nepal. 

But, with a single-point agenda of Rahul Gandhi’s prime ministership and keeping the logic of numbers alive, the decision on separate Telangana is being pushed by Congress in haste, feigning ignorance on very crucial issue of national security.

-Naresh@Sakshipost