The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh chaired the Chief Minister’s Conference on Internal security at New Delhi on December 20, 2007.
Following is the text of the Prime Minister’s address at the occasion:
“We met yesterday in the National Development Council to discuss the development challenges facing our nation and the new pathways we need to chart if we are to attain our development goals. Today, we are here to discuss the internal security challenges facing our Nation and the steps we need collectively to take if we are to provide the necessary environment for growth processes to play out fully. I would like to thank all of you present here and Shri Shivraj Patilji for this opportunity to discuss the internal security situation.
In many ways, development and internal security are two sides of the same coin. Each is critically dependent on the other. Often, the lack of development and the lack of any prospects for improving one’s lot provide a fertile ground for extremist ideologies to flourish. A large proportion of the recruits to extremist groups come from deprived or marginalized backgrounds or from regions which somehow seem disaffected by the vibrant growth in many other parts of the country. I had mentioned yesterday that I am concerned about the unevenness of our development process and the various development divides that are opening up in the country – the inter regional divide, the rural-urban divide and the inter-sectoral divide. These divides and disparities lead to disaffection, large-scale migration, and also to discord. I notice that in many cases, internal security problems arise out of the uneven development and we also need to address this issue if we are to make any long-term headway in combating extremist ideologies and extremist elements.
At the same time, development cannot take place in the absence of a secure and stable environment. In the last sixty years, we can as a Nation, justly be proud of our record in upholding the rule of law and maintaining public order. But, there are regions where the absence of a peaceful, secure environment has become a major hurdle in improving their prevailing economic conditions. State agencies find it difficult to run schools, healthcare services and PDS systems. Construction of essential infrastructure like roads, railways, electricity lines, telecom lines, irrigation systems and drinking water facilities is slowed down or stopped because of inadequate security. Such an atmosphere then is certainly not conducive to investment or rapid economic development.
Such regions get trapped in a vicious cycle of a poor law and order situation coupled with slow economic development. One situation feeds on the other and it becomes increasingly difficult to pull these areas out of the rut they are caught in. I have dwelt on this at length to emphasise that there are no easy solutions to the internal security challenges we face. They cannot be seen only through the prism of law and order nor can they be solved through a pure policing approach. The internal security challenges we face need your personal attention and leadership. It is only then can they be addressed in a coordinated and comprehensive manner. I urge all the Chief Ministers present here to reflect deeply on the internal security problems that the Home Minister has highlighted and work out credible responses to those challenges.
As we survey the national security scenario, there are a few aspects which are a cause of concern. I wish to highlight a few of them. Left Wing Extremism continues to affect many districts of our country. Just a few days ago, we had a major incident of a jailbreak in Chhattisgarh. This was not an isolated incident. Not a day passes without an incident of Left Wing Extremism taking place somewhere or the other. Over the last year, the activities of naxal groups have revealed new aspects. They seem to have developed the capability in some areas to launch frontal attacks on police forces and establishments. They are certainly targeting all aspects of economic activity. They are targeting vital economic infrastructure so as to cripple transport and logistic capabilities and also slow down any development activity. This helps them sustain their ideology of deprivation and neglect. They have even managed to eliminate some important political leaders and their associates in some States.
There also seems to be a consolidation of various groups with better coordination and better strike capabilities. Although the notions of a red corridor from Nepal to Andhra Pradesh are exaggerated, we have to admit that they have achieved some degree of success in enlarging their areas of militancy. In some States, they have also got involved in local struggles relating to land and other rights. I have said in the past that Left Wing Extremism is probably single biggest security challenge to the Indian State. It continues to be so and we cannot rest in peace until we have eliminated this virus.
We need a coordinated response to this challenge. The answers to the problem are well known. We need to cripple the hold of naxalite forces with all the means at our command. This requires improved intelligence gathering capabilities, improved policing capabilities, better coordination between the Centre and the States and better coordination between States and most important, better leadership and firmer resolve. Improving policing capabilities requires better police infrastructure, better training facilities, better equipment and resources and dedicated forces.
— to be contd
[The Sangai Express]
Following is the text of the Prime Minister’s address at the occasion:
“We met yesterday in the National Development Council to discuss the development challenges facing our nation and the new pathways we need to chart if we are to attain our development goals. Today, we are here to discuss the internal security challenges facing our Nation and the steps we need collectively to take if we are to provide the necessary environment for growth processes to play out fully. I would like to thank all of you present here and Shri Shivraj Patilji for this opportunity to discuss the internal security situation.
In many ways, development and internal security are two sides of the same coin. Each is critically dependent on the other. Often, the lack of development and the lack of any prospects for improving one’s lot provide a fertile ground for extremist ideologies to flourish. A large proportion of the recruits to extremist groups come from deprived or marginalized backgrounds or from regions which somehow seem disaffected by the vibrant growth in many other parts of the country. I had mentioned yesterday that I am concerned about the unevenness of our development process and the various development divides that are opening up in the country – the inter regional divide, the rural-urban divide and the inter-sectoral divide. These divides and disparities lead to disaffection, large-scale migration, and also to discord. I notice that in many cases, internal security problems arise out of the uneven development and we also need to address this issue if we are to make any long-term headway in combating extremist ideologies and extremist elements.
At the same time, development cannot take place in the absence of a secure and stable environment. In the last sixty years, we can as a Nation, justly be proud of our record in upholding the rule of law and maintaining public order. But, there are regions where the absence of a peaceful, secure environment has become a major hurdle in improving their prevailing economic conditions. State agencies find it difficult to run schools, healthcare services and PDS systems. Construction of essential infrastructure like roads, railways, electricity lines, telecom lines, irrigation systems and drinking water facilities is slowed down or stopped because of inadequate security. Such an atmosphere then is certainly not conducive to investment or rapid economic development.
Such regions get trapped in a vicious cycle of a poor law and order situation coupled with slow economic development. One situation feeds on the other and it becomes increasingly difficult to pull these areas out of the rut they are caught in. I have dwelt on this at length to emphasise that there are no easy solutions to the internal security challenges we face. They cannot be seen only through the prism of law and order nor can they be solved through a pure policing approach. The internal security challenges we face need your personal attention and leadership. It is only then can they be addressed in a coordinated and comprehensive manner. I urge all the Chief Ministers present here to reflect deeply on the internal security problems that the Home Minister has highlighted and work out credible responses to those challenges.
As we survey the national security scenario, there are a few aspects which are a cause of concern. I wish to highlight a few of them. Left Wing Extremism continues to affect many districts of our country. Just a few days ago, we had a major incident of a jailbreak in Chhattisgarh. This was not an isolated incident. Not a day passes without an incident of Left Wing Extremism taking place somewhere or the other. Over the last year, the activities of naxal groups have revealed new aspects. They seem to have developed the capability in some areas to launch frontal attacks on police forces and establishments. They are certainly targeting all aspects of economic activity. They are targeting vital economic infrastructure so as to cripple transport and logistic capabilities and also slow down any development activity. This helps them sustain their ideology of deprivation and neglect. They have even managed to eliminate some important political leaders and their associates in some States.
There also seems to be a consolidation of various groups with better coordination and better strike capabilities. Although the notions of a red corridor from Nepal to Andhra Pradesh are exaggerated, we have to admit that they have achieved some degree of success in enlarging their areas of militancy. In some States, they have also got involved in local struggles relating to land and other rights. I have said in the past that Left Wing Extremism is probably single biggest security challenge to the Indian State. It continues to be so and we cannot rest in peace until we have eliminated this virus.
We need a coordinated response to this challenge. The answers to the problem are well known. We need to cripple the hold of naxalite forces with all the means at our command. This requires improved intelligence gathering capabilities, improved policing capabilities, better coordination between the Centre and the States and better coordination between States and most important, better leadership and firmer resolve. Improving policing capabilities requires better police infrastructure, better training facilities, better equipment and resources and dedicated forces.
— to be contd
[The Sangai Express]
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