NEW DELHI, Feb 15: The internal security scenario in the country including troubled Jammu and Kashmir, North East and Left Wing Extremism affected areas, have shown distinct signs of improvement in 2013, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said. Addressing the Conference of Governors at Rashtrapati Bhawan, Dr Singh said the policy of engaging in talks with outfits willing to abjure violence and seek solutions within constitutional framework had yielded rich dividends in NE region. The two-pronged approach of conducting proactive and sustained operations against Left Wing Extremists and focus on development and governance issues in extremist affected areas too had shown encouraging results.
The measures undertaken included the Integrated Action Plan for 88 select and backward districts, most of them affected by Left Wing Extremism, improvement of road and telecom connectivity, streamlining the process of vesting of forests rights under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, strengthening of police stations, raising of specialised forces and deployment of additional central forces.
The country needs to persist and intensify these efforts. “We also need to ensure greater coordination between the Centre and States as well as between States, as this is critical to the success of our efforts,” Dr Singh said. On terrorism, the Prime Minister said the Government had taken several steps to deal with the threat including amending the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, augmenting the strength of the Central Armed Police Forces, strengthening the Multi Agency Centre (MAC) and the Subsidiary Multi Agency Centre (SMAC), creating four new hubs of the National Security Guard, strengthening coastal security and setting up the National Investigation Agency and creation of the NATGRID. Terrorist violence had come down in 2013 and the year had seen major successes in the fight against terrorist forces with the arrest of some of the most wanted terrorists. Communal disturbance had been a cause of concern for all and all States should do their utmost to reverse the situation. The States and the Centre should do everything in their power to prevent disturbances. All guilty are to be punished and responsibility for lapses fixed once communal disturbances occur and the Governors should take special interest to promote communal harmony, the Prime Minister said. The PMO, he said was following the proceedings over the last two days and will examine the suggestions made. “We value the advice of Governors. We believe that apart from being men and women of vast knowledge and rich experience, Governors also are in a unique position where they can watch and analyse the work of their State Governments closely and yet dispassionately,” the Prime Minister said.
Arguing for ensuring greater coordination between the Centre and States as well as between States, the Prime Minister said his Government had taken several steps to deal with the threat of terrorism also.
The measures included amending the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, augmenting the strength of the Central Armed Police Forces, strengthening the Multi Agency Centre (MAC) and the Subsidiary Multi Agency Centre (SMAC), creating four new hubs of the National Security Guard, strengthening coastal security, setting up the National Investigation Agency and creation of the NATGRID.
Incidents of terrorist violence have come down during 2013. The past year has seen major successes in the fight against terrorist forces with the arrest of some of the most wanted terrorists.
Stating that communal disturbances in some states was an area of concern, Dr Singh said the State and the Centre do their utmost to reverse this trend. It was essential that the guilty are punished and responsibility for lapses are fixed, once the disturbances occurred. The Governors should take special interest in promoting communal harmony.
On violence against women, Dr Singh said the government had taken steps to address this issue and amended the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2013 providing for speedy justice and enhanced punishment for sexual assaults, measures to enhance the safety and security of women, particularly in public places and punish harassment of women at the workplaces. “However, there is need to do much more and I would urge all Governors to impress on their Governments to give enhanced attention to issues relating to women,” Dr Singh added. Touching upon external security, Dr Singh said India was committed to foster good relations and peaceful coexistence with its neighbours. The Government was aware of the external dimensions of threats to security and remain resolute in our efforts to counter any such threat. Despite a slight increase in infiltration attempts in Jammu and Kashmir this year, vigilance and prompt action on part of our Armed forces have ensured that the number of successful infiltration attempts have been lower as compared to previous years.
To address internal and external threats to security, India was constantly strengthening capabilities of Armed and Police forces. We are also implementing a number of programmes to develop critical infrastructure facilities in border areas, he said.
(UNI)
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