There is one man who seems to be quite inspired by the ‘nationalistic’ theory — similar to that of Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi — that prompted him to jump in the political arena.
Former top cop, Satyapal Singh, needs no introduction as he last served as Mumbai Police Commissioner considered being one of the most prestigious assignments in the career of an IPS officer.
At times, addressed as Dr Satyapal due to a PhD in Public Administration, he has now entered Parliament with a giant-killer tag. He defeated RlD chief and Union Minister Ajit Singh in his own stronghold of Baghpat. He is ‘determined’ to pitch in for overhauling the internal security system, ushering reforms in policing and more specifically tackling Naxalism.
Due to a brilliant service record of over three decades, Satyapal was handpicked by the BJP leadership to contest from the Jat-dominated area of Baghpat, which over decades had been a fortress of the Chaudhary(s).
With hands-on experience of working in Naxalite areas of Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh and tackling crime in the financial capital of the country — Mumbai, Satyapal has also served in the CBI and understands the nitty-gritty’s of external security agencies, their cooperation and modus operandi to book and bring home international terrorists and underworld dons like Dawood Ibrahim.
“When as a country we are strong from within, even the world and more precisely the neighbours will respect us and acknowledge strategically. The international security agencies would also look upon us and will come to our help and association as the case may be. Nabbing underworld dons like Dawood Ibrahim is not a big deal but what has been ailing is the determination on part of political willingness. I am confident that with a hard task master Modi at the helm of affairs, several such decisions would be taken up,” Satyapal Singh told The Pioneer, in his first interview to a national daily after winning the lok Sabha polls.
Internal security involves work specifications on Naxalism, reviewing of India-Pakistan Confidence Building Measures, challenges of Border Management, study on illegal migration in the Northeast — a topic Modi is keen on taking personally and understanding the Student Islamic Movement of India.
Amidst the talks of key ministries being streamlined under the new government, work is underway to isolate the Internal Security division from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and place it directly under the Prime Minister. MHA sources said the two wings in the Internal Security division could be shifted to South Block, while the various agencies under the Ministry would be retained at their present locations. The shift to the PMO would put agencies like the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and National Investigation Agency (NIA) directly under the National Security Adviser (NSA), whose role is set to be strengthened in the BJP-led government.
In the last phase of his illustrious career, Satyapal had earned laurels for arresting within three days all five accused of gang-raping a 22-year-old photojournalist in Mumbai last year. Though he earned some criticism when Satyapal had indicated 'moral' policing was one of the answers to the city's growing sex crimes against women when he stated about methods of striking a balance between having a promiscuous culture and on the other hand a safe and secure environment for the people
Born on November 29, 1955, in Basauli in Meerut district of Uttar Pradesh, Singh had aimed to become a scientist before he joined the IPS in 1980. Post his police career, his electoral plunge could well see him being entrusting with the responsibility of the Internal Security Division.