M.K. Narayanan, former National Security Adviser and former West Bengal Governor, said on Wednesday that underinvestment in intelligence could only have adverse consequences.
He was delivering a special lecture on ‘The craft of intelligence: Its relevance and importance’ organised by the Department of Geopolitics and International Relations, Manipal University, here.
Mr. Narayanan said that the role of intelligence organisations, which was acknowledged as a footnote, needed wider recognition. Intelligence had emerged as a key factor and a force multiplier in dealing with multi-faceted threats. Over the years, the techniques of intelligence collection, assessment and analysis had all undergone fundamental changes.
But the need for intelligence had remained constant. “One change is that intelligence is no longer a cloistered science. It has come out to the open and is a subject of greater scrutiny today,” he said.
Consequently there was scepticism and concern about the methodologies apart from the value of intelligence and nature of intelligence functioning. Those in authority, the educated elite and those in various professions, academia and media should realise the usefulness and utility of intelligence. “They should realize how specific activities of intelligence agencies are crucial to sustain a nation,” he said. “Secrecy is central to the success of many intelligence operations. Too much intrusiveness under the garb of public scrutiny could prove self defeating,” he said.
Despite accusations against intelligence agencies of being serial violators of the law, the fact was they strictly adhered to the law of the land.
M.K. Narayanan, former National Security Adviser,
says underinvestment will be harmful
