From Advani's arrest to Modi's minister, life comes a full circle for RK Singh
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RK Singh taking oath as Cabinet Minister. Picture courtesy ANI.
Around 27 years back, when BJP patriarch LK Advani’s rath yatra entered Bihar during the peak Ram Temple movement, the then Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad asked one of his most efficient IAS officer RK Singh to arrest Advani.
Singh, the 1975-batch IAS officer, known for his no-nonsense approach, was then posted as District Magistrate of Samastipur. On October 23, 1990, Singh arrested Advani and his associate Pramod Mahajan and, as part of preventive detention, kept the duo at Masanjore Guest House near Dumka (now in Jharkhand, then in undivided Bihar). This was done so at Lalu’s behest who feared that Advani could disturb communal harmony in the State. Therefore, he entrusted the difficult task (of apprehending Advani) to his competent officer Singh.
Twenty-seven years down the line, the same RK Singh, now a BJP MP from Bihar’s Ara Lok Sabha constituency, has joined the Narendra Modi Government.
Singh, who earlier served as Union Home Secretary and was instrumental in sending 2008 Mumbai terror suspect Kasab to gallows, has enjoyed the confidence of political masters of all shades. Not only Lalu, Singh has enjoyed good rapport with JD (U) strongman Nitish Kumar and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram.
When Nitish became Chief Minister for the first time in March 2000 (although only for a week), he made Singh Bihar’s Home Secretary, superseding several senior IAS officers. Later, this Bihar-cadre officer, as Principal Secretary of Road Construction Department, turned around the Bihar roads, which were infamous for potholes. The new well-laid out smooth roads, throughout the State, fetched Nitish rich electoral dividends in 2010 Assembly polls.
Later, during central deputation, Chidambaram hand-picked RK Singh to be Union Home Secretary where he proved his mettle again. He, however, developed serious differences with Chidambaram’s successor Sushil Kumar Shinde and charged the latter with graft and incompetence.
After retiring as Union Home Secretary, Singh changed colours and joined BJP before contesting and winning as BJP MP from Ara in 2014. With today’s induction as Union Minister, life has come a full circle for this Rajput man who earlier antagonized the BJP by apprehending Advani and Mahajan in 1990 but is now part of the BJP-led ministry at the Centre.
Singh, the 1975-batch IAS officer, known for his no-nonsense approach, was then posted as District Magistrate of Samastipur. On October 23, 1990, Singh arrested Advani and his associate Pramod Mahajan and, as part of preventive detention, kept the duo at Masanjore Guest House near Dumka (now in Jharkhand, then in undivided Bihar). This was done so at Lalu’s behest who feared that Advani could disturb communal harmony in the State. Therefore, he entrusted the difficult task (of apprehending Advani) to his competent officer Singh.
Twenty-seven years down the line, the same RK Singh, now a BJP MP from Bihar’s Ara Lok Sabha constituency, has joined the Narendra Modi Government.
Singh, who earlier served as Union Home Secretary and was instrumental in sending 2008 Mumbai terror suspect Kasab to gallows, has enjoyed the confidence of political masters of all shades. Not only Lalu, Singh has enjoyed good rapport with JD (U) strongman Nitish Kumar and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram.
When Nitish became Chief Minister for the first time in March 2000 (although only for a week), he made Singh Bihar’s Home Secretary, superseding several senior IAS officers. Later, this Bihar-cadre officer, as Principal Secretary of Road Construction Department, turned around the Bihar roads, which were infamous for potholes. The new well-laid out smooth roads, throughout the State, fetched Nitish rich electoral dividends in 2010 Assembly polls.
Later, during central deputation, Chidambaram hand-picked RK Singh to be Union Home Secretary where he proved his mettle again. He, however, developed serious differences with Chidambaram’s successor Sushil Kumar Shinde and charged the latter with graft and incompetence.
After retiring as Union Home Secretary, Singh changed colours and joined BJP before contesting and winning as BJP MP from Ara in 2014. With today’s induction as Union Minister, life has come a full circle for this Rajput man who earlier antagonized the BJP by apprehending Advani and Mahajan in 1990 but is now part of the BJP-led ministry at the Centre.