The carrot and stick game

J Dey the editor, investigations, decodes the dangerous intelligence-mantri dynamics that rule India

J Dey the editor, investigations, decodes the dangerous intelligence-mantri dynamics that rule India

Finally, after all these years, we have a proposed ruling that restricts intelligence officers from discussing their political rivals with ministers. It is believed that these inputs could be misused during elections. So, sleuths will no longer brief top ministers of their state every morning andu00a0 chai-biscuits with them. While some observers see this as a move to clip the wings of the intelligence agencies, others say it is IPS brinkmanship.

Discussion no more: A fresh proposed ruling restricts intelligence officers from discussing their political rivals with ministers. It is believed that these inputs could be misused during elections Illustration/Satish Acharya

Surely, intelligence officers would heave a sigh of relief if the proposal were implemented. At least they can sleep an extra hour or do something more constructive with their time. After all, which officer wants to give up on his sleep to collect dirty intelligence on a minister's rival? That is, unless he expects to be rewarded with a promotion or a lucrative posting.

An intelligence officer needs to factor in the element of risk. If the mantri he reports to loses his post to the rival, someone in the officer's department could easily tell the new mantri who had snitched on him earlier.

Which is why some senior police officers are abruptly transferred when there is a change in the government.

A clever police officer usually tries to strike a balance between his work for different politicians and aims for a win-win situation. But usually IPS officers have very little choice in the matter. Their political masters want them to loyally keep a prying eye on their enemies. The same scenario repeats itself at the central intelligence agencies too. These bodies are misused to keep tabs on political rivals, especially when the political scenario heats up. It is even worse for field officers, as they have no idea when, where and how their inputs will be used.

A famous adage goes: Where there is ceiling, there is a false ceiling too.

Whatever a ruling may say, politicians will always find new ways to get IPS officers to gather information for them. The carrot and stick method works wonders in government circles.