State Ministers to handle non-internal security matters: Chidambaram

New Delhi, Feb 01 (ANI): Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Monday said he had asked his two ministers of state to look after non-internal security matters.

Presenting his ministry's monthly report card for January, Chidambaram said: "I decided that core work related to non-internal security matters should be allotted to two Ministers of State. I have already instructed them to conduct the meetings and also to conduct timely review in those matters."

Chidambaram said the decision is totally the internal matter of the Home Ministry and nothing to do with the reorganisation of the ministry.

"The decision is a totally internal matter of the Home Ministry, so that I can gain some more time to concentrate on matters related to internal security," Chidambaram said.

"As far as reorganisation of the ministry as I mentioned in my speech, is for the Prime Minister to decide," he added.

In December 2009, delivering the Intelligence Bureau Centenary Endowment Lecture Chidambaram had suggested that a division of the current functions of the Home Ministry was necessary.

"Subjects not directly related to internal security should be dealt with by a separate ministry or should be brought under a separate department in the (home ministry) and dealt with by a minister, more or less independently, without referring every issue to the home minister," Chidambaram had said.

'The home minister should devote the whole of time and energy to matters relating to security,' he added.

With today's statement it is clear that Chidambaram devoting his entire time on the matters related to insurgency, anti Naxal operations and matters related to Jammu and Kashmir.

In January, some of the Union Ministers of State complained to Prime Minister Singh over the negligence by their senior ministers in the decision taking process. (ANI)