L C Goyal faces first test as Home Secretary before Parliament Committee

NEW DELHI: Soon after taking over as Home Secretary, L C Goyal today faced his first test as he appeared before a Parliamentary Committee where tough questions were posed to him on issues like border fencing and trans-border terrorism.

The meeting of the Standing Committee on Home Affairs had been scheduled earlier for briefing by the Home Secretary on border management. However, since Anil Goswami was forced out as Home Secretary suddenly last night, Goyal had to appear before it.

Members present in the meeting said issues including cross-border terrorism, lack of modern equipment with border guarding forces, smuggling and infiltration came up for discussion. The issue of Burdwan blasts also came up briefly.

Though Goyal has had some experience of serving in the Home Ministry, it was decided that the committee would hear the Home Secretary later on the subject.

"Since he is new, we decided that he should be called again later to get his views on terrorism and Burdwan blasts," a member said.

Goyal, a 1979-batch IAS officer of Kerala cadre, was the Rural Development Secretary till yesterday.

While appreciating the role of security personnel manning the borders, the committee expressed its displeasure on lack of proper management in preparing plans to manage borders.

Some members suggested that there was a need to "rehaul" the concept of border management.

Representatives of Assam Rifles, BSF and coast guard were told to inform the committee about their requirements so that it can be highlighted in its report.