Author:
Publication: BJP Today
Date: December 1-15, 2001
The Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari
Vajpayee inaugurated Chief Ministers' Conference on Internal Security here
on Nov 17. Apart from Chief Ministers of various States, Union Home Minister
Shri L.K. Advani, Defence Minister Shri George Fernandes, Union Minister
for Law, Justice & Company Affairs Shri Arun Jaitley, Deputy Chairman
of the Planning Commission Shri K.C. Pant Minister of State in PMO, Shri
Vijay Goel, Ministers of State, Home Shri I.D. Swami and Shri Vidya Sagar
Rao were also present on the occasion.
Following is the text of the speech
by the Prime Minister on the occasion:
"I am pleased to be with you at
this important conference on Internal Security.
We have witnessed dramatic developments
in the world as also in our own region, in recent months. These developments
have significant implications for India's internal security, which need
to be carefully and comprehensively assessed by us. Hence, this conference
of Chief Ministers has acquired an added topical importance in the present
context.
India has been coping with the menace
of terrorism single-handedly for more than a decade. We had been trying
to sensitize the international community to recognize terrorism and religious
extremism as having become a potent threat to peace and a civilized world
order. We had been alerting major countries of the world to the fact that
some countries in our immediate neighbourhood had made export of terrorism
and religious extremism an important instrument of their state policy.
We impressed upon them the urgent
need to forge united global action against this global threat. I had specifically
cautioned in my address to the US Congress last year that "distance offers
no isolation" against this danger.
Our concerted efforts in this regard
did have the desired effect to a certain extent. We were able to begin
meaningful cooperation with several countries against terrorism. Nevertheless,
it is only after the horrific terrorist attacks on the United States on
11th September that the world community woke up to the severity as well
as the global reach of this threat.
The audacious nature of the terrorist
attacks on September 11 made it inescapable for the USA, within the framework
of an international coalition, to launch an offensive against Al-Qaeda
and the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. We in India supported this war not
only out of a sense of solidarity with the international resolve, but also
because of our firm belief that the defeat of the Taliban and dismantling
of the Al-Qaeda network is in our own vital national interest.
We are satisfied that the war in
Afghanistan is now showing all the signs of coming to an early and successful
conclusion. The Taliban are on the run from city after city in Afghanistan.
The United Nations is actively trying to put in place a stable, broad-based
and representative post-Taliban administration in that country. India will
play an active and positive role in this endeavour.
We in India can be legitimately
satisfied that our diplomatic efforts in the past two months have found
support among almost all countries in the world. My recent visit to Russia,
USA and the UK gave me an opportunity to know, first hand, that India's
principled stand on terrorism and religious extremism was highly appreciated
by the leaderships of these countries. The same was also evident during
the visits of many international dignitaries to New Delhi in the aftermath
of September 11.
Today, more than ever before during
the past five decades, the international community appreciates the correctness
of India's stand on the Kashmir issue. Major nations around the world have
acknowledged - some of them for the first time - that there cannot be double
standards in identifying and tackling terrorism. The self-evident truth
that terrorism and killing of innocent people cannot be justified on any
political, ideological or religious grounds has now become evident even
to those who earlier preferred either to ignore it or to rationalize it.
In all our talks with our friends
abroad, we have emphasized that the fight against terrorism should not
be limited to fighting only certain symbols or symptoms. Rather, it has
to be launched on a broader front. All murderous groups, wherever they
may be -- in Kashmir or elsewhere - must be declared as terrorist organisations
by all civilized nations. Their sources of funding have to be plugged.
Countries giving safe sanctuaries or any other kind of support to them
must be placed under sanctions. There should also be a concerted awareness
campaign against extremist ideologies that misuse the name of religion.
Our view is that unless this is done, the basic problem will remain.
I am happy to note that the international
opinion is now veering round to India's sound perspective on this matter.
Needless to add, all this augurs well for our own relentless battle against
terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir and elsewhere in India.
The situation in Jammu & Kashmir
is showing signs of improvement. I must compliment the Chief Minister and
his brave Cabinet colleagues as well as the legislators who are leading
the fight against terrorism. The gruesome terrorist attack on the Jammu
& Kashmir Legislative Assembly building on October 1 opened the eyes
of many foreign governments and made them realize the truth of India's
contention on cross-border terrorism.
Dear Chief Ministers, I have dwelt
briefly on India's diplomatic campaign in the wake of September 11 because
of the inseparable linkage between our internal security concerns and the
external environment in the region and the world. Our foreign policy has
always been a product of the national consensus. You will agree that the
time has come to similarly make even our policy on internal security a
matter of national consensus.
Today's conference is a conscious
effort to reinforce and further evolve such a consensus.
The unfolding developments in our
neighbourhood have shaken and under-mined the confidence of the terrorist
groups operating in our country. Simultaneously, our security forces, too,
have achieved major successes in their offensive against these forces.
It is possible that terrorist and
extremist groups, out of desperation, might try to create some mischief.
We need to be vigilant to face such threats.
As I have repeatedly stated in the
past, neither these groups nor their mentors abroad should be under any
illusion about India's determination or capability to decisively defeat
those who challenge our security or our national unity.
This warning is also directed at
the militant groups in the North-East and the left-wing extremists who
continue to be active in some States.
I congratulate the Chief Ministers
for taking firm measures to maintain communal peace and harmony against
serious provocations. Communal violence did break out in a few places,
but it was brought under control relatively rapidly.
We have come across a number of
cases where conspiracies for terrorist action have spread across a number
of States. Although discussions on this were initiated a year back, we
do not as yet have any agency in place, which can take on and pursue such
cases on it own. Until we have such a federal agency, the key to success
will be cooperation and timely exchange of intelligence between the Centre
and the States and among States themselves.
I would request you to impress upon
the agencies under your command the need to deepen and broaden the scope
of such cooperation.
Every country, which is under threat
of terrorism, is tightening its immigration laws and procedures. India
is high on the list terrorist's targets, but our structures and procedures
are lax. We have a porous border with several neighbours. Our long seacoast
also needs to be better patrolled. A large number of foreign nationals
who have come on visitor's visas have become traceless. These vulnerabilities
need to be plugged.
In the North-East our attempts at
dialogue have been moving on promising lines. I know that rapid and all-round
development is the most important component in our strategy to bring peace
and democratic stability to the region. We have accordingly appointed a
Minister to head the newly created Department of North-East Development.
While the Centre is prepared to do everything for security and progress
in the North-East, I urge the State Governments in the region to strengthen
their own efforts to fight militancy and effectively implement all developmental
policies and programmes.
In my address at the meeting of
the Inter-State Council yesterday, I referred to the need for a free and
frank debate on the Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance, which the Centre
has promulgated recently. The circumstances that have compelled us to bring
in this legal instrument are well known to you. We have held consultations
with State Governments and the Law Commission before taking this step.
We have also taken care to remove the shortcomings in TADA, which lapsed
some years ago without a successor anti-terrorism law.
I have the fullest confidence that
you will give your studied views on this ordinance, consistent with your
own assessment of the nation's security needs.
A major difficulty facing us is
the enormous delays in the trials because of the huge pendencies in the
judicial system. It is the major factor in shockingly low conviction rates.
Because of this inefficiency in our criminal justice administration system,
appropriate punishment is not visited upon criminals who find themselves
free to commit further crimes with impunity. This has lead to erosion in
the people's faith in the rule of law. This basic lacuna in our law enforcement
system needs to be addressed squarely and quickly.
Urgent attention also needs to be
paid to the primary instrument available to us for internal security -
the State police forces. I had last year approved a quantum increase in
the financial assistance to the States for modernising their police forces
by way of equipping them with modern communication systems, transport facilities,
weapons etc. I would like this plan to be implemented with a sense of urgency.
The terrorist attacks of September
11 have sharply highlighted the need for having a sound and dependable
disaster management system. We need such a system to deal with both natural
disasters as well as multiple threats to our internal security. We should
also be prepared to face new types of threats arising out of chemical,
biological and nuclear materials falling into the hands of terrorist groups.
We have taken steps to sensitise
the State Governments about these dangers. Being the first responders,
the State Governments must constitute requisite number of Quick Response
Teams, armed with specialized training and state-of-the-art equipment.
Both the Centre and the States also need to create a good inventory of
the resources available at various places and a plan to mobilize them in
best possible ways for disaster management.
Chief Ministers, this Conference
is important because it gives us an opportunity to come together and survey
the many tasks and challenges facing us. The nation expects us to work
together to reliably strengthen our internal security, based on a broad
consensus in thought and action.
I am sure that today's conference
will meet the demands of our time and the expectations of our people.
Thank you".
