'No Inch Conceded. No Compassion Shown'

PM’s address at the Chief Ministers meet on Internal Security


When I was a student in England some 50 years ago, Lord Kaldor used to say progress of a country depends critically on those whose ideals and motivations influence the critical decisions that guide a nation. Environment for India's favourable development was never as favourable as it is now. Increased resources can flow in if safety and security is ensured. This will enable us to free the country from the age-old scourge of hunger, poverty and chronic disease.

I am delighted to welcome you all once again to New Delhi. At the previous Conference of Chief Ministers we discussed problems pertaining to rural development and panchayat raj. Ourgovernment has made an explicit commitment to give a "New Deal To Rural India" and this is, I believe, our most important priority. I had an opportunity once again to outline our policy perspective in this regard at the Agricultural Summit here in New Delhi last week convened by Hon. Minister for Food & Agriculture. I have also had the opportunity of sharing my thoughts with some of you at meetings where we set out our agenda for education, for health care and for infrastructure development. As I had said in my very first address to the Nation as Prime Minister, these key areas of development remain our most urgent and important priorities.

Today, we meet to discuss an equally important area of public policy, namely internal security and law and order. Development and security are mutually inter-related. We need a combined strategy to deal simultaneously with the twin challenges of development and security within the framework of a democratic polity. Our experiment with democracy has so far been unique and all over the world there is appreciation of the way we have stayed faithful to the vision of our founding fathers in keeping alive the ideals of democracy There is wide appreciation internationally that there is no other developing country in the world of a billion people, as diverse as ours, that has successfully worked a democratic system dedicated to the rule of law. India’s experience and example in this regard will hold lessons for the world as the 21st Century moves on.

Yet, there are challenges that our democracy faces. These challenges arise partly as a consequence of the unevenness of our growth process, the inequity in our social institutions and the shortcomings of our political institutions. Often these challenges also arise because we are an open society and have allowed free expression to dissent of varying kinds. This is our strength. But in this also lies a challenge that we need to deal with.

A democratic government has to make a distinction between the genuine and legitimate expression of dissent and disaffection and the manifestations of anti-national, anti-social and anti-people threats to our democratic way of life. There are today many challenges to internal security: criminal activity, extremism, insurgency, terrorism, communal violence and atrocities against women, SCs and STs. Our security forces are duty bound to deal with crime and law and order problems within the framework of clearly spelt out laws. Insurgency and extremism, on the other hand, have a political dimension that often requires the political management of a security situation. We have time and again attempted this in the North-East and in Naxalite affected areas. The challenge of terrorism must be faced squarely and resolutely by all shades of political opinion. There can be no political compromise with terror. No inch conceded. No compassion shown. The people of India have suffered a great deal at the hands of terrorists and ourgovernment and I am sure, I speak for all CMs represented here, is resolute in its determination to wipe out this threat to a civilized and democratic way of life. There are no good terrorists and bad terrorists. There is no cause, root or branch, that can ever justify the killing of innocent people and against the functioning of a duly established democraticgovernment. No democratic government can tolerate the use of violence against innocent people and against the functionaries of a democraticgovernment.

Extremism is not merely a Law and Order issue. This we recognize. Development, or rather the lack of it, often has a critical bearing, as do exploitation and iniquitous socio-political circumstances. Inadequate employment opportunities, lack of access to resources, under developed agriculture, artificially depressed wages, geographical isolation, lack of land reforms may all impinge significantly on the growth of extremism. There may be other more complex issues like language, ethnicity, caste or religion or cultural rights. In this complex world that we live in, all these factors have to be taken into consideration as we evolve solutions for these difficult challenges that we face.

Whatever be the cause, it is difficult to deny that it has huge societal costs. Investments are unlikely to fructify, employment is not likely to grow and educational facilities may be impaired. Direct costs would include higher costs of infrastructure creation as contractors build "extortions" into their estimates, consumers may be hurt due to erratic supplies and artificial levies. In all, the society loses.

Delivery systems are often the first casualty under extremist pressures. Schools do not run, dispensaries do not open and PDS shops stay closed. Public service providers can now ascribe all these inefficiencies to "extremism". In many cases, "extremist" areas also appear to be closely associated with a lack of strong participatory mechanism. Panchayats are generally weak and even where they do exist, not enough powers are delegated. Panchayats are important from another angle. They create room for political action - by mainstream political parties, by NGOs and civil society. Generally, traditional headmen and village institutions are treated with respect even by extremists. Ideologically driven movements do exploit the vacant spaces caused by the absence of mainstream political formations at the grass roots level.

When genuine dissent becomes extremism there can be no ambivalence about tackling it, even if it be only symptomatic. The Chief Ministers should recognise these different facets of the security threats we face and develop policies designed to address them. Our citizens are free to choose the particular brand of politics they wish to follow, they have the freedom to take recourse to collective action to achieve the social, political or economic changes that they desire but no one is either permitted or expected to resort to violence to achieve these ends or to try and prevent elected functionaries from doing what they are supposed to do. This should be made amply clear in our policy announcements. Talks and negotiations should always be welcomed. I have repeatedly stressed that we are ready to talk to any group that abjures violence.

But the basic issues regarding violence and the State’s obligations to curb it, should be clarified at the outset, so that there are no misunderstandings or a feeling of being let down at later stages. In our country, symbols and gestures matter a great deal. Nothing should be done which detracts from the authority of the Indian state and its primary role as an upholder of public order. The State should not even remotely be seen to back away in the face of threats of armed violence. You need to be firm, but not transgress the limits of human rights or dignity. We must prevent our society from being brutalized. However, legitimate needs and aspirations, even if set out in procedurally or presentationally inappropriate terms, should be examined with care and sympathy. We are dealing after all, with our own people, even though they may have strayed into the path of violence.

Hon. Chief Ministers,

You, who represent both political and administrative leadership should develop the required policies, frame the action programmes and deliver the outputs. This is our common goal and objective. We must empathise with the underlying causes and be able to tactfully handle the strong feeling arising out of long-standing deprivation or neglect. But we should also be uncompromising in our resolve to uphold the position of the duly electedgovernments. The need for a focussed, compact, multi disciplinary group to handle such a complex issue, cannot be over-emphasized. This group both at official level and political level, should have strong political leadership and backing and should, under all circumstances have direct access to the highest political executive.

I have repeatedly emphasized the importance of good governance. This entails effective, if humane, maintenance of law and order and efficient policing. I urge your Conference to also deliberate upon the need for police reforms. A well-trained, sensitive, citizen-friendly but firm police force is a necessary element of good governance. Thegovernment has at its disposal the wisdom of many committees of enquiry and study on police reforms. I urge Hon. Chief Ministers to give the recommendations of existing committees utmost importance and initiate the required reform, in training, in service conditions, in career progression, in technical support and finally in depoliticising to the maximum extent possible, the functioning of the police.

I must pay tribute to the courage, the dedication and commitment of our police and other security forces, especially in parts of the country that have been disturbed by anti-national and anti-social forces. I salute the courage and commitment of the security forces in our border States where they have had to deal with cross-border infiltration by extremist elements. The Home Minister has drawn our attention to the fact that in the last one year we have seen a marked decline in infiltration and in violence in Jammu & Kashmir. I compliment him, his ministry, our gallant security forces and our Stategovernments for this track record. Notwithstanding the recent dastardly attempt to disrupt the bus service between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad by terrorists, the people of Jammu and Kashmir came out onto the streets as one to welcome this gesture of reconciliation. I hope the terrorists and extremists in the region have grasped the mood of the people and will not try to disrupt this bus service again. I do believe that it is the joint responsibility of thegovernments of India and Pakistan, and of the local authorities on both sides of the line of control to work together in providing full security cover to the bus service, which is a service for peace and for promotion of reconciliation. . I hope we can work together in protecting the lives of innocent people and in fighting the sources of terrorism in the region.

We have also seen a decline in extremist violence and restoration of normalcy in many parts of the North-East including Manipur and Assam. I sincerely believe that this region is ripe for development provided we can ensure peace and security. Destiny beckons the North-East to become an active bridge between South Asia and East Asia at a time when this Century is to be an Asian Century. I hope all shades of political opinion in the region will grasp this opportunity and help us, join hands with us, and bring peace and prosperity to the region as a whole. I reiterate once again that violence and the use of force cannot win the rewards that insurgents and extremists seek. Ourgovernment will deal firmly with insurgency. However, we are willing to conduct an honest and meaningful dialogue with any group that abjures the path of violence and is willing to engage in a dialogue.

I am aware that many of you, Hon'ble Chief Ministers, are grappling with the threat of Naxalism. We cannot ignore the fact that the threat ofNaxalism is geographically confined to the more backward regions and districts of the country. Hence, our strategy to tackle this threat to law and order in these districts and regions will have to be to "walk on two legs": To implement programmes and policies that address the pressing needs and demands of the people, especially the scheduled tribes and scheduled castes; and, at the same time, to ensure effective policing and maintenance of law and order. The speedy implementation of land reforms, the redistribution of land, the assurance of tribal rights to forest produce, implementation of development projects and spread of mass education and health facilities are all important steps we must take.

At the same time, we cannot ignore the inter-State and external dimension to Naxalism today. This requires greater coordination between Stategovernments and between the Centre and States. We have to take a comprehensive approach in dealing with Naxalism given the emerging linkages between groups within and outside the country, that the Home Minister has referred to. I also draw your attention to the Home Minister’s perceptive observations on the nexus between terrorist groups, organized crime syndicates, drug trafficking and external forces interested in destabilizing our polity. I strongly urge leaders of all political parties to ensure that such forces and groups are kept away from our political processes. We need to have a zero-tolerance for criminalisation of politics.

Hon'ble Chief Ministers,

I am happy to note that the incidence of communal violence has come down in recent months. Ourgovernment -- and I am confident, I speak for all of you -- is firmly committed to the assurance of security to all our citizens irrespective of caste or religion. We are doubly committed to the protection of the lives and livelihood of all Minorities. We have stood tall as a Nation because of the fact that we are the world’s most successfully functioning multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, multi-religious democracy. There is no precedent elsewhere in the world where a billion people are trying to realize their destiny in the framework of an open society and an open economy. It is, therefore, incumbent upon us, the custodians of our Nation, to ensure that this precious character of our Nationhood is not weakened by forces of bigotry and chauvinism. Our security forces must remain sensitive to this and act decisively in the face of any challenge to communal peace and harmony. Every citizen has a right to demand and secure the protection of our police and security forces.

Continuing crimes against weaker sections, particularly women and children and Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes are a matter of disgrace in a civilized society. Deeply concerned about the historical injustices faced by the weaker sections of our society, our founding fathers had made provisions in our Constitution for protecting their interests and prohibiting discrimination on the grounds of race and caste. Despite our best intentions and efforts, unfortunately, the crimes against these sections of society still persist. This calls for serious introspection and a comprehensive review of the strategies adopted so far and an analysis of the factors that have been responsible for this unfortunate trend continuing. Both the Central and Stategovernments need to collaboratively work out a comprehensive plan of action and take all necessary measures for preventing crimes against the vulnerable sections of society.

Finally, I urge Chief Ministers to pay special attention to intelligence gathering and the modernization of our intelligence services and security forces. The timely availability of reliable information is a key weapon in the defence of national security. Our intelligence gathering agencies have a creditable track record of human intelligence as well as the use of new technologies but we need to do a lot more in this area. However, we can not rest on our laurels and must constantly improve our skills and capabilities. There has to be much better integration and coordination of work between different intelligence agencies, between such agencies and security forces, between the Centre and the States and among States.

Technological modernization and training in tackling new dimensions to national security, like economic security, cyber-security, energy security, container security and such like must get their due attention. We must equip ourselves better in dealing with the extant and emerging challenges in all these areas.

The challenge of internal security is our biggest national security challenge. We have complete and total confidence in our capability and ability to take on any challenge to our national security from outside the country. We will also address resolutely the external threats to internal security and fight terrorism and the ideology of terror. In dealing with this and other manifestations of criminal activity, extremism and insurgency I urge you, Chief Ministers, to function as a cohesive team, work on a war-footing and pay the highest attention to the challenge of internal security.

In conclusion, I would like to reiterate the two key themes running through my address. First, there is no place for violence and extremism of any kind in a democratic, rule-based society. One should not be ambivalent about this and we must be firm in sending this signal to all groups treading the forbidden path. At the same time, we must realize that disaffection and alienation are a result of pent up grievances against economic and social deprivation. Therefore the onus is on all of us to provide good, effective governance that provides a ray of hope to all and a stake in our collective future.

I wish your deliberations all success. Jai Hind!