A tale of two Aruns

By Inder Malhotra

In New Delhi's corridors of power these days, the most absorbing topic of conversation is Mr. Arun Singh's unobtrusive return to the South Block in a still undefined but clearly crucial role as Security Adviser to the Minister for External Affairs, Mr. Jaswant Singh. Indeed, many in the politico-bureaucratic labyrinth are already talking of the ``importance of being Arun Singh.'' For, while most of those in the business of politics chase power and office relentlessly - not always with conspicuous success - in his case the reverse seems to be true.

As is well known, he was virtually dragged out of a cushy private sector job into political arena by his childhood friend, Rajiv Gandhi. A first-namesake of his, Mr. Arun Nehru, had traversed the same path even earlier. By the time Rajiv was ensconced as Prime Minister, fortified with the largest-ever popular mandate, the joke in the capital used to be that he was ``running the country with the help of two Aruns, one a cousin and the other a crony.''

However, such is the nature of power and so byzantine the political process that the trilateral partnership broke down astonishingly fast. Both the Aruns fell from grace. Mr. Arun Nehru was the first to go and lost no time in making common cause with Mr. V. P. Singh, by then the rallying point for the steadily mounting opposition to Rajiv. In sharp contrast was Mr. Arun Singh's quiet exit and immediate departure for a remote Himalayan retreat.For 13 years, Mr. Arun Singh has not broken his silence on the reasons for his resignation as Minister of State for Defence. But enough evidence has accumulated to show that he was appalled by what can only be called the ``Bofors cover-up.'' Tense exchanges between him and Rajiv Gandhi on the file - leaked copiously in recent years - confirm that there were shades of Becket on the parting of the two friends.In believing that he would be left undisturbed in self-exile, Mr. Arun Singh was mistaken. On becoming Prime Minister in December 1989, Mr. V. P. Singh tried hard to persuade him to take over the Defence portfolio, but he declined. He agreed, however, to head a committee, artfully described as a panel on defence expenditure but actually meant to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the entire defence set-up. The Arun Singh Committee's report, known to be excellent, still bears the ``top secret'' classification and continues to gather dust in some official pigeon-hole.

A brief foray into the Foreign Office during the Kargil war, and Mr. Arun Singh was back in the Himalayas. This time around, however, he is in Delhi to stay. Needless to add that tongues are wagging and there is intense speculation. The question most often asked is whether his presence at the policy-making level would make a difference to the tussle that is believed to be on between Mr. Jaswant Singh and the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Mr. Brajesh Mishra.

Such gossip may be the staple of political Delhi. But, at a more serious level, the feeling is that the External Affairs Ministry ought to be doing more in the sphere of national security, not just in international security discussions, than is the case at present. Mr. Arun Singh should be able to bring about greater interaction between defence and diplomacy, given his rich experience and, what is even more important, the respect he enjoys in the armed forces.

However, the key question is whether, with or without Mr. Arun Singh's help, the structures and procedures for decision making on national security, such as they are, can be made more efficient, effective, cohesive and thus conducive to integrated and well-coordinated conduct of national security. At present, the national security scene remains cluttered, confused and confusing. Over 20 months after it was set up, the National Security Council (NSC) has little to show for itself. In fact it hardly meets. The Cabinet Committee on National Security does meet often but only to graple with the crisis of the day.

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Section  : Opinion
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