THREE YEARS OF THE GOVERNMENT

MAJOR INITIATIVES BY THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

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PEACEFUL CONDUCT OF ELECTIONS IN J&K:

Peaceful conduct of the Assembly Elections in Jammu & Kashmir in September-October, 2002 has been a major achievement. Barring stray incidents people in large numbers voted in the elections despite threat from terrorist groups. The 44-45% turnout of voters in the 4-week polling was a snub to terrorism. It underscored Jammu & Kashmir’s total defiance of the militants’ diktat asking people to keep away from the polls. This also vindicated the Governments earnestness to strengthen the democratic process in the troubled State of Jammu & Kashmir. The notable feature of the elections was that several ambassadors from foreign countries and prominent delegates were allowed to visit the State to see the voting process. Countries like the USA, Britain etc. have hailed New Delhi’s efforts to complete the elections incident-free.

COUNTERING TERRORIST ACTIVITIES IN J&K:

The Government during the period under report continued with its four-pronged strategy to counter terrorist and separatist violence in Jammu & Kashmir by deepening of the democratic process, accelerating economic development, isolating foreign mercenaries and terrorists and playing a pro-active role to neutralize them. The Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee and the Deputy Prime Minister & Home Minister, Shri L.K. Advani reviewed the security situation in J&K a number of times during the period

As a first step towards solving the Kashmir issue and bring back normalcy the Government released several Hurriyat leaders. Another major step to bring back normalcy in the Kashmir valley was the Prime Minister’s cease-fire initiative announced on the eve of Ramzan in 2000. The Cease-fire was twice extended upto May, 2001 to give the militant groups a chance to avail peace initiatives.

ISI ACTIVITIES DEFEATED AND POTA ENACTED:

The Government defeated several covert action designs by the Pak-ISI. As many as 101 ISI modules were busted. Major cases detected included the exposure of L-e-T network in India (arrest of Junaid in Hyderabad), Chittisinghpora massacre, serial bomb blasts by Deendar Anjuman in churches of South India, the Red Fort shoot out and the L-e-T attempt to bomb the Hanumangarhi Temple at Ayodhya.

Thirty-two organizations in country were declared unlawful under the Prevention Of Terrorist Activities (POTA). The POTA Bill had been passed by Parliament in a Joint Session of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. It was for the third time after independence that a Joint Session of Parliament was called to enact a Law.

REFORMING NATIONAL SECURITY SYSTEM:

Under the Chairmanship of the Deputy Prime Minister & Home Minister, Shri L.K. Advani, a Group of Ministers (GOM) was set up by the Prime Minister to review the National Security System in its entirety in the light of the recommendations of the Kargil Review Committee. Accordingly four task forces were set-up on, Intelligence Apparatus, Internal Security, Border Management and Defence. The task forces reported back to the GOM which made a detailed study of the recommendations. The GOM submitted its report to the Government in the month of February, 2001, recommending important steps for reforming the National Security System.

MILLENNIUM’S FIRST KUMBH MELA:

Another remarkable achievement was the successful conduct of the Kumbh Mela in Allahabad which was noted as the largest human gathering in the last millennium.

MILLENNIUM’S FIRST CENSUS:

The new Millenium’s first Census Report "The Census of India 2001" was released in the first half of March, 2001 and the population of India stood at 1,027,015,247(Male 531,277,078 – Female 495,738,169) as on March 1, 2001. The Census Report was compiled in the least possible time and data computerised. An Interactive web site for generating maps on census themes was also launched by the Deputy Prime Minister on the 5^th September, 2002.

POLICE REFORMS:

Police reforms in the States was the top priority. Accordingly the funds released for modernisation of police force in the States was raised from Rs. 200 crores to Rs.1000 crores (for each State) every year. The reimbursement of security related expenditure in dealing with insurgency in North-Eastern States was also raised.

NORTH-EASTERN COUNCIL:

Sikkim will be the 8^th Member of the North-Eastern Council. It was decided in the last NEC meeting that necessary Legislation will be brought in to include Sikkim in the Council. Development of North Eastern States was given paramount importance. One of the significant step was the Prime Minister’s package announced in January, 2001 for the development of North-Eastern States which amounted to Rs.10,271 crores. Later it was raised by another Rs.2119 crores bringing the total to Rs.12390 crores.

PEACE INITIATIVES IN NORTH-EASTERN STATES:

The Government of India, the State Government of Assam and the Bodo Liberation Tigers agreed to further extend the suspension of operations and the arrangement continues till date. The Government also extended the Cease-fire with the NSCN (I/M). Barring a few incidents the North-East relatively enjoyed peace during the period.

INTER-STATE COUNCIL:

The 8^th meeting of the Standing Committee of the Inter-State Council was held on September 1, 2000. The meeting discussed in detail the recommendations of the Sarkaria Commission on Legislative Relations, role of Governor, deployment of Union Armed Forces, and All India Services. In view of the demand made by the majority of the States, it was decided that while selecting a Governor, consultations with the State Governments should be made obligatory. It was agreed that necessary amendments will be brought in the Constitution.

FORMATION OF NEW STATES:

The formation of the New States of Chhatisgarh, Jharkhanda and Uttaranchal was a notable achievement of the Government.

DEALING COMMUNAL INCIDENTS:

After the Godhra train incident in Gujarat there was violence and communal flare-up in Ahmedabad and some parts of the State. The Home Ministry took urgent steps in close co-ordination with State authorities to contain the violence and not to allow it to spread to other parts of the country

HOME MINISTERS VISIT TO FOREIGN COUNTRIES:

The Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, Shri L.K. Advani undertook a visit to Israel, France and the United Kingdom from 14^th June to 24^th June, 2000. The tour was undertaken with the primary objective of discussing the problem of international terrorism and exploring the possibility of bilateral co-operation in fighting the menace. During a separate visit later to Germany and Turkey the Home Minister signed Extradition Treaties with these countries. He also visited USA, Spain and again Britain. Shri L.K. Advani signed the extradition treaty with Spain during his visit.

Shri Advani when in Washington and London, he impressed upon the authorities there that they should pressurize Pakistan to handover the 20 terrorists listed by India who are involved in terrorist activities in India. It was after the September 11 incident in New York and the December 13 attack on Indian Parliament that New Delhi took a very hard line to end cross-border terrorism. The Government decided on firm terms that no talks can be held with Pakistan until cross-border terrorism halted to zero.

IMPROVING RELATIONS WITH NEIGHBOURS:

Fourth round of Home Secretary level talks between India and Bangladesh took place on 26-27 April, 2000. A delegation from Bangladesh led by the Home Secretary, Bangladesh attended the meeting. The Indian delegation headed by Union Home Secretary, Shri Kamal Pande conveyed India’s deep concern at the continued influx of illegal migrants from Bangladesh. Concern over the presence of top militant leaders of banned Indian militant groups inside Bangladesh was also conveyed. The Government sanctioned the construction of the remaining 797 kms of border roads and 2429 kms of border fencing on the Indo-Bangladesh border at a cost of Rs.1334 crore.

The Indo-Nepal Home Secretary level talks were held in Kathmandu from July 4, 2000. Both the sides discussed modalities to enhance cooperation in combating activities of terrorists, criminals along the India-Nepal border. The highjacking of the IA Place and security lapses of the Tribhuban Airport also came up.

The Seventh National Level Meeting between India and Myanmar was held in Yangon from August 28 to 31, 2000. The Union Home Secretary, Shri Kamal Pande led the Indian Delegation to the talks while Brig. Gen. Thura Myint Maung was the leader of the Myanmar team. Both the countries reviewed the progress achieved in the implementation of measures for ensuring security along the India-Myanmar border. The Eighth National Level Meeting between India and Myanmar to discuss security, border trade and other issues of mutual concern was held in July 10-11, 2002.

The Government of India extended the Ban on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) by another two years.

THE UGLY FACE OF TERRORISM SPONSORED, AIDED & ABETTED BY OUTSIDE FORCES, EXPOSED:

The December 13, 2001 ghastly incident of attacking the Indian Parliament by a group of terrorist was an attack on the democratic fabric of the nation. Because of the alertness of our security and para-military forces a major tragedy was averted. All the terrorist were killed and security further tightened in the country. The incident took place within three months of the September 11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre in New York.

Another dastardly act was the attack on Jammu & Kashmir Assembly on October 1, 2001 in which a number of innocent people were killed. The terrorist group was smashed.

Last but not the least was the terrorist attack on the Swami Narayan Temple in Gandhi Nagar, Gujarat in which 31 innocent persons were killed, 28 devotees and three security and para-military force personnel. The two terrorists involved in the attack were done to death. These incidents have clearly surfaced the ugly face of terrorism actively supported by our western neighbour. But the nation has taken a resolve to fight this with all its might and has also succeeded in gaining international support to wipe out terrorism. Pakistan has been exposed for its continued support to cross-border terrorism.

HUMAN RIGHTS:

The Ministry of Home Affairs initiated several periodic trainings and briefings to the para-military forces under its command to exercise restraint during difficult operations in disturbed areas so that there is no complaint of human rights violation. This has resulted in the sharp drop of reports on human rights violation by security forces personnel. Action was also taken on specific cases after proper investigation.