MP Singh Calls for Strong Intelligence Agency Under Prime Minister

Kathmandu. Ruling party Rastriya Swatantra Party MP Dr. Amresh Kumar Singh has stated that a strong intelligence agency is needed to stop the interference of foreign powers in the country and prevent the country from becoming anyone's playground. He expressed this view while speaking at a meeting of the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee under the House of Representatives. Emphasizing that the department should not be made a recruitment center for political activists, he demanded that employee selection should be through the Public Service Commission and 'meritocracy' should be maintained within the organization. Participating in the discussion on the bill to amend the 'Nepal Special Service Act, 2042', he said that the National Investigation Department should be kept under the Prime Minister. He argued that such an arrangement is necessary considering the internal and external security sensitivities of the country. Mentioning that the Ministry of Home Affairs has bodies like the Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force, and their own intelligence bureaus, MP Singh said that the Prime Minister needs a separate and independent mechanism to get information about the overall situation of the country. Citing past examples, he mentioned that depriving the Prime Minister of information would create complications in running the government and prevent the full discharge of responsibility. Speaking at the meeting, he said, 'The loyalty of the institution must be singular; the institution does not become strong with dual loyalty.' He added, 'When it remains under the Prime Minister's Office, its accountability and effectiveness will increase.' He clarified that the Prime Minister should be directly informed about external threats and geopolitical situations, which would enable him to give necessary directives to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Home Affairs. Citing examples of powerful intelligence agencies of many countries, including India's intelligence agency 'RAW', operating under their respective Prime Ministers, he said that adopting the same practice in Nepal would be relevant. MP Singh emphasized the need to free the National Investigation Department from traditional methods and make it technology-friendly. He stated that the 'manual' system is not sufficient to deal with modern security challenges such as cybercrime, drones, and remote control systems. He said that there should be a legal provision to tap the phones of suspicious individuals if necessary for the security of the state, and this should be linked to national interest.