12-03-2008, 07:30 AM
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<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Doubts surround introspective Singh's ability to reform security</b>
By Alan Beattie in New Delhi
Published: December 2 2008 02:00 | Last updated: December 2 2008 02:00
Manmohan Singh ensured his place in history when, as India's finance minister in 1991, he seized the opportunity of an economic crisis to push through radical reform of its regulation-bound economy. Now, as prime minister, he faces a fresh crisis: reforming a security regime that was found deeply wanting by the Mumbai attacks.
But with only a few months before his government must call a general election, Mr Singh may find it hard to shake up an administration many observers say is characterised by drift and introspection.
In spite of his previous success at the finance ministry, there was not universal praise for his decision this weekend to combine it with his prime ministerial role after appointing Palaniappan Chidambaram, the current finance minister, to replace Shivraj Patil as home minister. "Taking over the finance portfolio himself is not a good idea," says Tarun Das, chief mentor to the Confederation of Indian Industry, who hopes it is only a stopgap measure. "It needs a full-time minister."
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<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Doubts surround introspective Singh's ability to reform security</b>
By Alan Beattie in New Delhi
Published: December 2 2008 02:00 | Last updated: December 2 2008 02:00
Manmohan Singh ensured his place in history when, as India's finance minister in 1991, he seized the opportunity of an economic crisis to push through radical reform of its regulation-bound economy. Now, as prime minister, he faces a fresh crisis: reforming a security regime that was found deeply wanting by the Mumbai attacks.
But with only a few months before his government must call a general election, Mr Singh may find it hard to shake up an administration many observers say is characterised by drift and introspection.
In spite of his previous success at the finance ministry, there was not universal praise for his decision this weekend to combine it with his prime ministerial role after appointing Palaniappan Chidambaram, the current finance minister, to replace Shivraj Patil as home minister. "Taking over the finance portfolio himself is not a good idea," says Tarun Das, chief mentor to the Confederation of Indian Industry, who hopes it is only a stopgap measure. "It needs a full-time minister."
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