The former National Security Adviser, M.K. Narayanan, was sworn in on Sunday as West Bengal Governor. The oath-of-office was administered by Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court M.S. Shah.
Later responding to queries from the media on tackling the Maoist problem in the State, he said : “I hope that with my experience, I will be able to help the administration.” To a question on the continuing political violence in the State, Mr. Narayanan said: “Let me settle down first, then I will talk to the Chief Minister to see what can be done.” Mr. Narayanan was awarded the Padma Shri in 1992 for his services to the country, a communication from the Raj Bhavan said.
Misconception
Answering a question on the setting up of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC) and its usefulness, he said that there had been a lot of misconception. “The question is what should be the exact role of the NCTC — that is a matter of discussion — it will be the combined wisdom of everybody,” Mr. Narayanan said.
Born in 1934 in New Delhi, Mayankote Kelath Narayanan joined the Indian Police Service in 1955 and went on deputation to the Intelligence Bureau in 1959.
He dealt with a whole range of internal and external security issues, being the Director of the Bureau from 1987 to 1992.
He has also served as Chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee of the Government of India.
He retired in 1992 and was appointed the NSA by the UPA government in 2005.
Mr. Narayanan was also the Prime Minister’s special representative for boundary talks with China.
