R. K. Singh

For the SP Politician, see R. K. Singh Patel. For the Congress Politician, see R. P. N. Singh.
Raj Kumar Singh
Member of the India Parliament
for Arrah
Incumbent
Assumed office
16 May 2014
Preceded by Meena Singh
Personal details
Born 6 November 1953
basbittiSupaul, Bihar, India
Political party Bharatiya Janata Party

Raj Kumar Singh is an Indian politician who formerly served as a 1975 batch Bihar cadre Indian Administrative Service officer.[1] On 30 October 1990, when district magistrate of Samastipur, he arrested L. K. Advani, a senior figure in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), while Advani's rath yatra was en route to Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh from Somnath in Gujarat. The arrest was made by order of the Lalu Prasad Yadav government.[2]

There was speculation that Singh would contest from the Bihar constituencies of either Arrah or Supaul in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, though Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh objected to him contesting from Supaul.[3][4][5][6][7] On 13 December 2013, Singh joined the BJP.[8][9] He contested the election as a BJP candidate in Arrah, beating his nearest rival by a margin of over 135000 votes.[10][11][12]

Early life and career

R. K. Singh is a native of Supaul district in Bihar.[13] He was the district magistrate in East Champaran and Patna in the 1980s before joining the state home department in 1997. During the Nitish Kumar government's first term (2004–2009), Singh, as principal secretary in the road construction department, played an important role in improving the condition of roads in Bihar.[14][15] In the National Democratic Alliance-led government, the then Home Minister, Advani, selected Singh to work as joint secretary in the Home Ministry for five years from 1999 to 2004.[16] R.K.Singh was Union Home Secretary of India from 30 June 2011 to 30 June 2013,after that he retired from service.[17][18][19][20][21] In 2013, Singh was tipped to be adviser (infrastructure) in the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government,a post created through cabinet approval. However,he did not accepted the assignment.[22] Before his appointment as Union home Secretary, Union Defence Minister A. K. Antony had picked Singh to head the department of defence production in 2009 in view of his clean reputation.[23][24]

Disagreement on views in UPA-II Government

Since Singh's retirement from the Home Ministry in June 2013, he made his sympathies for the BJP clear, publicly expressing views against the United Progressive Alliance's policy on internal security and also its stance regarding Pakistan.[25] Singh was chosenby the then Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram for his efficiency and no-nonsense attitude. Known to be a tough taskmaster, Chidambaram got along well with Singh at a professional level. However, Singh had several run-ins with Chidambaram's successor, Sushilkumar Shinde, who was not happy with the home secretary's handling of the situation following the 16 December 2012 Delhi gang rape.[26]

There were other instances where Singh is said to have been in disagreement with the minister. One such was the Sayed Liyaqat Shah case. Liyaqat, a surrendered militant who was to be rehabilitated, was arrested by Delhi Police on 20 March on the Nepal border. Shinde had handed over the case to the National Investigation Agency against Singh's advice.

See also

References

  1. "BJP is the only party to protect national interest: Former home secretary RK Singh as he dons saffron colours : India, News — India Today". Indiatoday.intoday.in. 14 December 2013. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  2. "Ex-Home Secy RK Singh joins BJP, likely to contest LS polls". Zeenews.india.com. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  3. "RSS opposes RK Singh contesting from Supaul Lok Sabha seat". News18. 1 January 1970. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  4. "Ex-Home Secy RK Singh joins BJP, likely to contest LS polls". Zeenews.india.com. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  5. Firstpost (23 October 1990). "Ex-Home Secy RK Singh to join BJP; to contest LS polls". Firstpost. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  6. "Bihar steeped in corruption, says R K Singh – The Times of India". Articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 28 December 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  7. "Congress hits back on bureaucrat-turned BJP leader RK Singh – IBNLive". Ibnlive.in.com. 28 December 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  8. Special Correspondent (13 December 2013). "Former Union Home Secy RK Singh joins BJP". The Hindu. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  9. "Former home secretary RK Singh, ex-PM Shastri's son join BJP". Livemint. 13 December 2013. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  10. "RK Singh not making tall promises in Ara – The Times of India". Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 14 April 2014. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  11. "Latest News Video : R. K. Singh incites people against Congress". Zeenews.india.com. 15 October 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  12. "Former Home secretary battles caste in Bihar". OdishaSunTimes.com. 28 November 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  13. Aman Sharma, ET Bureau 14 December 2013, 03.59AM IST (14 December 2013). "Former Home Secretary RK Singh joins BJP – Economic Times". Articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  14. "Retired home secretary RK Singh to be Bihar advisor". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  15. "Nitish's A-team: Bihari babus show their mettle — Times Of India". Articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 10 January 2010. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  16. "Former union home secretary R K Singh joins BJP". Business Standard. 13 December 2013. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  17. "Anil Goswami to be next home secretary – Times of India". Articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 27 April 2013. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  18. "RK Singh likely to be new home secretary – Times of India". Articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  19. "RK Singh to succeed Pillai as home secy". Hindustan Times. 24 June 2011. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  20. Special Correspondent (25 June 2011). "R.K. Singh takes over as OSD, Home Ministry". The Hindu. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  21. Special Correspondent (22 June 2011). "R.K. Singh likely to be next Home Secretary". The Hindu. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  22. "BJP poaches Nitish aide". Telegraphindia.com. 14 December 2013. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  23. "Ex-home secy who stopped Rath Yatra to join BJP". Hindustan Times. 13 December 2013. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  24. Nishit Dholabhai (24 June 2011). "RK Singh to be home secy". Telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  25. Mistake to make RK Singh Home Secretary: Salman Khurshid to NDTV
  26. "Delhi gang-rape: RK Singh demands death penalty for accused | Watch the video — Yahoo India". In.news.yahoo.com. Retrieved 20 December 2013.