Increased Focus On Soft Targets

PM’s speech at the Chief Minister's Conference on Internal Security

We met yesterday in the National Development Council to discuss the developmentchallenges facing our nation and the new pathways we need to chart if we are toattain our development goals. Today, we are here to discuss the internalsecurity challenges facing our nation and the steps we need collectively to takeif we are to provide the necessary environment for growth processes to play outfully. I would like to thank all of you present here and Shri Shivraj Patiljifor this opportunity to discuss the internal security situation.

In many ways, development and internal security are two sides of the samecoin. Each is critically dependent on the other. Often, the lack of developmentand the lack of any prospects for improving one’s lot provide a fertile groundfor extremist ideologies to flourish. A large proportion of the recruits toextremist groups come from deprived or marginalized backgrounds or from regionswhich somehow seem disaffected by the vibrant growth in many other parts of thecountry. I had mentioned yesterday that I am concerned about the unevenness ofour development process and the various development divides that are opening upin the country -- the inter regional divide, the rural-urban divide and theinter-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 needto address this issue if we are to make any long-term headway in combatingextremist ideologies and extremist elements.

At the same time, development cannot take place in the absence of a secureand stable environment. In the last sixty years, we can as a Nation, justly beproud 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 hasbecome a major hurdle in improving their prevailing economic conditions. Stateagencies find it difficult to run schools, healthcare services and PDS systems.Construction of essential infrastructure like roads, railways, electricitylines, telecom lines, irrigation systems and drinking water facilities is sloweddown or stopped because of inadequate security. Such an atmosphere then iscertainly not conducive to investment or rapid economic development.

Such regions get trapped in a vicious cycle of a poor law and order situationcoupled with slow economic development. One situation feeds on the other and itbecomes increasingly difficult to pull these areas out of the rut they arecaught in. I have dwelt on this at length to emphasise that there are no easysolutions to the internal security challenges we face. They cannot be seen onlythrough the prism of law and order nor can they be solved through a purepolicing approach. The internal security challenges we face need your personalattention and leadership. It is only then can they be addressed in a coordinatedand comprehensive manner. I urge all the Chief Ministers present here to reflectdeeply on the internal security problems that the Home Minister has highlightedand work out credible responses to those challenges.

As we survey the national security scenario, there area 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 afew days ago, we had a major incident of a jailbreak in Chhattisgarh. This wasnot an isolated incident. Not a day passes without an incident of Left WingExtremism taking place somewhere or the other. Over the last year, theactivities of naxal groups have revealed new aspects. They seem to havedeveloped the capability in some areas to launch frontal attacks on policeforces and establishments. They are certainly targeting all aspects of economicactivity. They are targeting vital economic infrastructure so as to crippletransport and logistic capabilities and also slow down any development activity.This helps them sustain their ideology of deprivation and neglect. They haveeven managed to eliminate some important political leaders and their associatesin some States.

There also seems to be a consolidation of various groups with bettercoordination and better strike capabilities. Although the notions of a redcorridor from Nepal to Andhra Pradesh are exaggerated, we have to admit thatthey 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 landand other rights. I have said in the past that Left Wing Extremism is probablysingle biggest security challenge to the Indian state. It continues to be so andwe cannot rest in peace until we have eliminated this virus.

We need a coordinated response to this challenge. The answers to the problemare well known. We need to cripple the hold of naxalite forces with all themeans at our command. This requires improved intelligence gatheringcapabilities, improved policing capabilities, better coordination between theCentre and the States and better coordination between States and most important,better leadership and firmer resolve. Improving policing capabilities requiresbetter police infrastructure, better training facilities, better equipment andresources and dedicated forces. I notice that there are large vacancies ofpolice personnel across most States. I hear that there were only three staff inthe Dantewada jail where the jailbreak took place. Inadequate, ill equipped, illtrained, poorly-motivated personnel cannot take on the naxal extremists who areincreasingly better equipped and organized. We need to fill vacancies as amatter of priority. I would also urge States to establish specialized, dedicatedforces to fight Left Wing Extremism. These forces should be led by capable,highly motivated officers who can imbue the necessary fighting spirit in theirpersonnel. The Home Ministry will provide all possible assistance to theseforces. States also need to consider joint operations and joint mechanisms foreffective police operations in appropriate cases.

While tackling naxal groups militarily, we also need to choke their supportinfrastructure. Forest operations, tendu patta operations and contractors ininterior areas are particularly vulnerable to extortion. I wish to know from youabout steps that can be taken to reduce the funds flow to naxal groups. We alsoneed to ensure that essential economic infrastructure is protected and the tempoof development activities is increased. I know this is easier said than done,considering the risks that are involved. But, we need to devise both protectionmechanisms as well as incentives for ensuring that naxal groups do not succeedin their attempts to derail processes of development. We also need to wean awaythe youth from naxal ideologies. I am told that a coordinated effort has begunin eight districts in four States. This is only a beginning. We need such aresponse across the entire affected area.

While Left Wing Extremism may be restricted in its scope to some regions, thelarger problem of terrorism affects merely all States equally. Terror attacksmay have happened so far only in some locations. But the reach of terrorists issuch that no one can say that they are fully immune from such attacks. In thecurrent year, we have had high profile terror attacks in Hyderabad, Rajasthan,Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. Terrorists are able to use a wide range of materialsand are able to organize coordinated strikes. They are able to network acrossStates and even international boundaries. Intelligence agencies warn of furtherintensification of violent activities by terrorist groups. While the actualperpetrators of terrorist violence may belong to a few known organizations, weneed to guard against their attempts to recruit local sympathisers and localsupport.

I would like to stress that we need to be firm in ourresolve to combat terrorism in all its aspects. The key to success in fightingterror is intelligence -- and intelligence needs to be precise and capable ofbeing acted upon. This requires better coordination between central and Stateagencies.

The other aspect I notice is the increased focus of terrorists on softtargets. These include transport systems -- as we saw in Mumbai, public places --as we saw in Hyderabad and Punjab and religious shrines -- as we saw in Ajmer.We need to improve our surveillance and preventive systems to reduce theprobability of terror attacks. This is a cost -- but a cost we must learn tobear for the sake of the safety and security of our citizens. We also need tomake citizens our partners in this battle as it will be impossible for policeand intelligence agencies to cover all locations and situations. Often, it isthe early warning given by citizens which has prevented major catastrophes.

In this context, the issue of investigation and prosecution of cases ofterror having inter-state or international linkages also needs to be consideredin a pragmatic manner. The proposition now appears to be that we are not talkingabout specifying any crimes as ‘federal crimes’ to be investigated by afederal agency. The suggestion is to set up a Consultative Mechanism to decideon a case-to-case basis whether investigations need to be done by a designatedagency. Or have collaborative arrangements in the framework of a concurrentjurisdiction. I would urge you to consider these options seriously.

The problems of the North Eastern States and Jammu& Kashmir are unique. They suffer from poor infrastructure and communicationfacilities. It has been our sincere attempt to improve these facilities so thatthese states too can benefit from our booming economy. But, these States havevulnerabilities on the internal security front which we need to address. EachState has its specific nuances and characteristics and we cannot generalize theproblems. There are many regional and tribal demands which need to be addressedsystematically. If not done so, they can lead to disaffection and law and orderproblems. While there has been an improvement in the overall situation in allthese States, Manipur and Nagaland appear particularly vulnerable. Extortionseems to be a frequent occurrence. We need to put an end to this. We need toenforce the rule of law and create a respect for the State apparatus. We needmuch better leadership at all levels so that militancy is curbed and people feelsecure. National considerations and requirements should take over-ridingpriority. I wish to hear from the Chief Ministers of the North Eastern States,their perception of the situation and how they propose to handle the delicatesituation that prevails some of their States.

Before I conclude, I wish to draw your attention to a simple but morefundamental issue. This is the need to improve our entire police apparatus. Ibelieve that citizens should see policemen as their friends. It should be ourcommon endeavour to improve routine policing, policing which affects theday-to-day life of our citizens, policing which gives them a sense of securityand comfort, policing which makes women and children feel safe and secure,policing which keeps the old out of harm’s way, policing which tackles pettymenaces. This is the normal expectation that our people have from the police.You need to guide your police forces to achieve these simple but basicobjectives.

This requires undoubtedly greater investment in our police forces. This isnot wasteful investment. This is an investment in our future. We need top classpolice forces across the length and breadth of our country, forces which canmeet our people’s expectations. Apart from finances, the most critical aspectis training and capability improvement. You must invest in the human resourcesyou have. We will support you from the Centre. I will request the Hon’ble HomeMinister to consider setting up a specialized training facility for trainingpolice trainers from all over the country. This facility can become a centre ofexcellence which will be the foundation for improving training capabilities ofall State police forces. It could have the best training talent and expertiseand can be a most effective instrument for professionalising our policemachinery all over the country. It can become the node for modernization effortsin training and for inducting modern techniques into our police forces.

This is an important conference. You have greater knowledge of groundrealities and the efforts needed for improving internal security. I look forwardto hearing from you your views on this very important subject as a guide tocollective decision making processes which will add to the sense of securitythat all our citizens desire as their fundamental right."