Home Ministry likely to oppose Army''s proposal on ITBP
The Home Ministry is likely to oppose a fresh proposal of the Defence Ministry seeking "operational control" of Indo-Tibetan Border Police manning over 4,000 kilometres of the country''s boundary with China in three different states.
The move comes in the wake of reported differences between Army and ITBP jawans at the Line of Actual Control after which the Army moved a fresh proposal for operational control of the para-military force in order to have "synergy" among the forces manning the border with China, official sources said.
While the Home Ministry is officially quiet on the issue, the sources said it was of the view that such a move would be detrimental not only to the morale of the jawans of the ITBP, who have been performing their duties in utmost difficult terrain, but will also lead to confusion among the ranks of the para-military force.
They said at a meeting held recently, the Home and External Affairs ministries found themselves on the same page and were of the view that this will unnecessarily complicate issues along the LAC with China.
The Army had sought operational control of the ITBP because of the aggressive patrolling across the LAC by Chinese troops saying this would help in better border management. The ITBP has nearly four battalions comprising nearly 4,000 personnel in Leh. .
1 comment:
If the law of the land says that the army takes control of all border guarding forces in times of war, then it is hardly possible that such a move will 'demoralize' the men.
The govt will hopefully approve this proposal, because the home ministry knows nothing about preparing for war, and the ITBP will get steamrolled by even a minor chink offensive. The army needs to reassume primacy, and exercise the same.
Post a Comment