The following is
the text of the Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s
speech at the Chief Minister’s Conference on Internal Security
here today:
"I am happy to
be with you this morning. It is heartening to note that that
the Chief Ministers’ Conference on Internal Security is now
a regular annual event. It gives us an opportunity to sit together
to assess the emerging threats to internal security, both in
the context of individual States and in the broader national
context.
Of the multiple
threats to internal security, some, most notably terrorism,
also affect our national security, national unity and integrity.
Terrorism today has emerged as perhaps the most serious threat
to the civilized world order and to a democratic polity. The
world has realized that terrorism transcends national boundaries.
This realization, which came with the September 11 terrorist
attack in the United States, has been reinforced by the gruesome
happenings in Moscow and Bali.
Its linkages to
illicit trafficking of drugs, arms, and money laundering have
enhanced the lethal reach and destructive power of terrorism.
For us, the most
disconcerting aspect of terrorism is that it is sponsored, supported
and funded by Pakistan as a matter of its State policy. India
has been a victim of such cross-border terrorism for more than
two decades now. The year 2002 proved to be no different from
2001, as illustrated by the attack on the US Information Centre
in Kolkata, the killings of innocent children, women and men
in Kaluchak, the attacks on the Akshardham Temple in Gandhinagar
and the Raghunath Temple in Jammu, and the storming of the CRPF
Camp in Srinagar.
Pakistan has taken
no significant action against training camps and infrastructural
support to terrorism. This questions its claim to participate
in the international struggle against terrorism. It also violates
the UN Resolution 1373, which enjoins all countries that they
shall not support terrorism in any way and for whatever cause.
The assurances given by the leadership in Islamabad on the issue
of cross-border terrorism remain unfulfilled. The Pakistani
establishment does not appear to be interested in establishing
tension-free and good-neighborly relations with India by ending
its proxy war against our country.
Available reports
suggest that the territories of Nepal and Bangladesh are now
being used by the ISI to pursue its anti-India agenda. Therefore,
we have to intensify our efforts to counter terrorism in Jammu
& Kashmir and subversive activities both in those States
that border these two countries and elsewhere.
Much to the discomfiture
of the anti-India forces, the situation in Jammu & Kashmir
is improving. The Assembly elections in October saw a big voter
turnout despite the atmosphere of fear and violence sought to
be created by Pakistan-backed groups. The free and fair elections
were a victory for Indian democracy. The people gave a verdict
for peace and rapid socio-economic development.
The immediate task
before the Jammu and Kashmir Government is to strive to fulfill
the legitimate aspirations of the people through a two-fold
response: one, to strengthen the atmosphere of peace by dealing
firmly with those intent on disturbing it; and secondly, to
vigorously implement all developmental, welfare, and employment-generating
programmes. The experience of Punjab has shown that our battle
against terrorism entered a positive phase when the people themselves
were helped to shed fear and actively isolate the militants.
This is what needs to be achieved in the Kashmir Valley. The
Central Government remains committed to providing all necessary
support to the State Government for these two objectives.
Maintenance of
peace and communal harmony is of over-riding importance for
our internal security. This also frustrates those who wish to
harm our national unity and integrity. The attacks on temples
in Gandhinagar and Jammu failed to disturb communal peace. This
shows us how to foil the provocation of hostile forces.
Sensitive issues,
of course, have to be handled sensitively. We have to give full
play to the power of dialogue and negotiations in our attempt
to resolve disputes. When a dispute cannot be resolved through
negotiations, the verdict of the judiciary has to be accepted
by all concerned. No issue, howsoever justified in the eyes
of one or the other party, can justify confrontation and communal
violence. Law and the interests of the Nation are supreme.
However, the Nation
has learnt at great cost that sensitive issues should not be
left unresolved and to fester for too long. When circumstances
bring such matters to the Court, people expect the judiciary
to give its verdict expeditiously. This would enable all of
us to leave behind contentious issues inherited from the past,
and move on to deal confidently with the pressing tasks of nation
building.
It is heartening
to note that security in the North-East improved significantly
in 2002. Our policy of sustained talks and negotiations to bring
about peace is showing results. One round of peace talks has
recently been concluded with Isak Muiwah group of the National
Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-I/M). After several rounds
of negotiations abroad, these talks were held for the first
time in India. Negotiations are also in progress with the Bodo
Liberation Tigers. We are confident that our peace talks with
BLT will soon yield a positive agreement. We hope that these
peace talks would reach a decisive stage in the coming months.
Good governance
is the most important component of our strategy to bring lasting
peace to the region, and to reach the fruits of development
to people belonging to all the diverse ethnic groups in the
Northeastern States. Concerted efforts need to be made by the
State Governments to ensure accelerated implementation of infrastructural
projects, create employment opportunities, and promote harmonious
and decentralized development with people’s participation. The
Central Government will continue to provide all the necessary
assistance in this regard.
The persisting
problem of left-wing extremism in certain States is a matter
of serious concern. It extends all the way from the Nepal border
to Andhra Pradesh, covering as many as nine States. The situation
is particularly worrisome, since it affects the most under-undeveloped
parts of our country and thus hampers the efforts of the Central
as well as the concerned State Governments to speed up development
there. Today I would like to emphasize the need to remove all
the shortcomings in intelligence-sharing and mounting well-coordinated
anti-naxalite operations by the concerned States. If necessary,
this should be done under a unified command.
State Governments
should also accord a higher priority to the socio-economic development
of the districts affected by left wing extremism. Here, scarcity
of funds has not been the critical bottleneck; the problem lies
in implementation. Experience has shown that, wherever governmental
schemes and programmes have been implemented well, with the
participation of local organizations, and through proper communication
of our objectives, the people themselves have forced extremist
elements to stay off. In particular, we must resolve to accelerate
the development of physical and social infrastructure in this
belt. In this context, I have a few specific suggestions.
Construction of
rural and district roads in critical clusters, identified by
MHA, may be taken up on priority under the Prime Minister’s
Gram Sadak Yojana and with the Central Road Fund. If necessary,
suitable relaxation in the guidelines may be made for the execution
of these works.
- Priority should also be accorded
to integrated implementation, in the same clusters, of all
the Central and State government schemes in healthcare, education,
and employment generation, with maximum involvement of Panchayati
Raj Institutions and local and community-based organizations.
- States should post their most
experienced and committed police and administrative officers
in these districts.
The growth of organized
crime is also affecting internal security. Organized crime requires
a better organized response. Therefore, we need improved inter-agency
coordination, particularly in sharing criminal intelligence.
We also need to quickly create a comprehensive and online database
on member of terrorist groups and organized crime syndicates.
I understand that the Home Ministry has initiated necessary
action in association with State Governments. This process should
be expedited
Dear Chief Ministers,
all of you will agree that the police station is the most important
unit in our strategy to improve internal security. The Police
Modernization Fund was the Central Government’s well-considered
response to the long neglect of the basic needs of the police
station. While some States have made good use of the available
funds, I have to express my disappointment that several States
have failed to do so. Some have not used even 50 percent of
the funds available. I would like this conference to objectively
review the performance of this scheme and come up with effective
remedial measures. While the police stations need to improve,
the citizens who come to the police stations must feel that
the attitude and functioning of the policemen have also improved.
All the studies have shown that where the police are people-friendly,
the people in turn support the initiatives of the police. This
increases the effectiveness of the police manifold. In this
context, I cannot overemphasize the need for the police to behave
with greater empathy and sensitivity while interacting with
the poorer and weaker sections of society.
Effectiveness of
the police requires reasonable continuity of tenure of officers
at various levels. Frequent transfers demoralize policemen and
harm our efforts to fight crime.
Better administration
of criminal justice is vital for improving our internal security.
I must say that our citizens are as disappointed as policemen
themselves that the present system has inbuilt incentives for
delays, which only benefit the lawbreaker. I hope that the Committee
already constituted under Justice Malimath to look at the entire
gamut of the administration of criminal justice comes up with
credible solutions, both administrative and legal.
Friends, there
has been a debate for perhaps too long on the need for setting
up a Central Law Enforcement Agency to deal with well-defined
federal crimes. There have been many incidents of terrorist,
extremist, and criminal activities, which have inter-state,
regional, and even international linkages. Several States have
experienced the difficulties in dealing with such threats on
their own. This has made people wonder why there cannot be prompt,
well-coordinated and effective action in such cases. I would
like this Conference to debate whether such an agency, bound
by mutually-agreed operational norms and principles, would restrict
the domain of State police forces or enhance their effectiveness.
I would also like this debate to consider whether the proposed
agency would help or hinder fulfillment of our Constitutional
obligation to provide better security to our citizens. This
Conference has a comprehensive agenda and contains important
topical issues. I hope our deliberations will be fruitful.
Thank you".