ADVANI INAUGURATES THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF DGPs AND IGPs

(THE TEXT OF THE SPEECH)

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I am pleased to be with you at this annual conference of the Directors General and Inspectors General of Police. Experience shows that this conference has proved itself as a useful forum for reviewing the various issues pertaining to our country’s internal security and evolving suitable strategies to effectively respond to them.

Your confere4nce is taking place at a time when the spotlight is naturally turned on the excellent ob done by the police and security forces on two recent occasions in combating the greatest threat to India’s internal security: terrorism fueled by religious extremism.

Akshardham: successful operation, quick breakthrough

The first was Gujarat, where two terrorists stored the Akshardham Temple in Gandhi agar on September 24 and killed 26 innocent persons. What is notable is that al most all their acts of depredation took place before the state police arrived on the scene, later assisted by the commandos of the National Security Guards (NSG) who quickly flew in from New Delhi. Thereafter, all that the two terrorists could do was to try to save their own lives and to escape an attempt in which they predictably failed.

There is all-round appreciation for the success of the police and the security forces in their operation at Akshardham. But, equally, the investigating agencies have won kudos for getting important early leads for a breakthrough in their case. These clearly point to the attack being not merely an act of terrorism, but of cross-border terrorism. The entire country and the world know the difference between the two.

The attackers, their accomplices and their mastermind had hatched a conspiracy to incite communal violence in Gujarat and elsewhere in the country. This is clearly evident from their choice of Akshardham as the target. Our people by remaining calm and maintaining peace in the face of this provocation have responded well to this sinister conspiracy.

December 13: Let us observe the anniversary in a befitting manner

The operation of the police and the commandos at Gandhi agar naturally made people recall, with admiration and gratitude, the manner in which security forces foiled the terrorist attack on our Parliament on December 13 last year. Had the terrorists succeeded in their diabolical plan, the consequences could have been catastrophic.

Soon we will observe the first anniversary of this event. When I think of this, I cannot hide a certain regret and disappointment in me. As far as India is concerned, the December 13 terrorist attack on our Parliament, which is a sacred temple of our democracy, is no less grave THAN THE September 11 attack on the World Trade Center towers in New York and the Pentagon in Washington DC was for the United States. Yet, whereas the Americans remember September 11 in a very active, collective and visible manner, we in India seem to have let December 13 recede into our memory. I cannot quite say why this is so. It may be because we India have witnessed terrorism in many forms and four a long time, whereas September 11 was the first time America experienced terrorism.

Whatever be the explanation and the analysis, I strongly urge that December 13 be commemorated in a befitting manner, so as to show the resolve of the Government and the people of India to stamp out terrorism. December 13 was a failed plot. So also was the attack on Akshardham. Nevertheless, we must be on vigil. The enemy seems determined to mount similar bold terrorist attacks.

Jammu & Kashmir elections: A significant victory in our fight against cross-border terrorism

The second major development, which has a positive significance for India in many ways, has been the successful conduct of the first two phases of the Assembly elections in Jammu & Kashmir. I have no doubt that the remaining two rounds of polling will also be successful.

The nation remembers that this democratic process in J&K is unfolding in the backdrop of a bold, sustained and successful campaign against cross-border terrorism carried out by our Army and security forces. The back of Pakistan-supported militancy inside the State has been broken. Unlike in the late 1980s and the 90s, what remains is almost exclusively terrorism by infiltrators from across the border. We shall break the back of this menace, too. This is our firm resolve, let there be no doubt whatsoever about it.

I take this occasion to pay my grateful tributes to all those police personnel, security forces and our Army jawans and officers who have laid don their lives in fighting terrorism and insurgency in different parts of our country. Our various plans to take care of the families or these martyrs should be implemented properly and speedily.

Often I find it perplexing when critics ask us, after every fresh incident of terrorism, why it happened. Some people in the media quickly, indeed routinely, rush to the conclusion that this is yet another instance of "intelligence failure". I urge them to exercise restraint. Such uninformed, and sometimes motivate, criticism demoralizes or intelligence agencies and security forces. It also creates confusion in the minds of the common people. The critics do not know under what trying, sometimes impossible, conditions our agencies have to work to ferret out information and pursue the culprits.

I have often said that we can easily take care of terrorism, but tackling cross-border terrorism, which is being pursued as a matter of state policy and as a strategy for proxy war by our neighbour, the nature of our engagement changes completely. Many complex issues come into play. And, in addition to the operation of our security forces on the ground, our diplomatic initiatives too become an arrow in our quiver.

The Agenda Notes have flagged two important issues relating to cross-border terrorism: namely, flow of money to terrorist and subversive outfits and their accomplices; an ideological indoctrination of youth by some banned organizations. We must further improve our strategies to counter these activities.

Friends, let me now turn to some other issues on the agenda. The situation in the North-East is a mixture of some positive developments in some states and a continuing trend of extremist violence elsewhere. We should consolidate the positive developments so that, combined with the democratic and developmental processes, we can decisively turn the corner in those states. I am sure this conference will throw some useful light on how to step up our efforts in areas where extremist violence is still at a high level.

Left-wing extremism has shown a decline in some of its traditional strongholds. But, disturbingly, l it is on the rise in other parts of Central and Eastern India. Since the menace has common ideological. Organizational and operational roots, what is needed is greater coordination among the States to tackle it.

Modernisation of Police forces: Disappointing implementation

The issue of implementation of our Scheme for Modernization of State Police Forces will naturally dominate this conference. I must express my deep disappointment over the trady performance of several States. After much careful thought, and with great expectations, we enhanced the annual allocation to Rs. 1000 crore from 2000-2001. Yet, utilization by some States has been nil.

I think the time has come to seriously review the nature of this scheme. Since modernization of the police forces continues to remain a national priority from the point of view of our internal security, it cannot be allowed to suffer on account of the States’ inability to provide matching grants or other factors. There is a demand to change the cost-sharing pattern. There is also the suggestion for the Centre to give maximum assistance in kind - in the form of weaponry and communication equipment. It will not solve all the problems, but even partial progress over today’s situation is preferable.

Ultimately, however, this issue highlights the need to evolve an integral strategy for internal security, one in which the Centre and the States have to work together with greater unity, without diluting our federal set-up.

I am sure this conference will also discuss the many lacunae in our criminal justice system, in which the common man’s faith is eroding. All of us aware that, in the task of improving this system, the police have certain responsibilities and the judiciary too has certain responsibilities. It is only when both sides carry out long-pending reforms that the system as a whole will work better. I think the time has come when we need to institutionalize this reform process through the joint efforts of the police and the judiciary. Nevertheless, whatever correctives the police can introduce in their own domain, they should do so without any delay.

With these words, I conclude my remarks. I look forward to fruitful deliberations in the conference. I also congratulate, in advance, the winners of the President’s Police Medals which the Prime Minister will give away tomorrow.

Thank you.