~I am happy to be with you this morning. It is heartening to note that that the Chief Ministers’ Conference on Internal Security is now a regular annual event. It gives us an opportunity to sit together to assess the emerging threats to internal security, both in the context of individual States and in the broader national context.

Of the multiple threats to internal security, some, most notably terrorism, also affect our national security, national unity and integrity. Terrorism today has emerged as perhaps the most serious threat to the civilized world order and to a democratic polity. The world has realized that terrorism transcends national boundaries. This realization, which came with the September 11 terrorist attack in the United States, has been reinforced by the gruesome happenings in Moscow and Bali.

Its linkages to illicit trafficking of drugs, arms, and money laundering have enhanced the lethal reach and destructive power of terrorism.

For us, the most disconcerting aspect of terrorism is that it is sponsored, supported and funded by Pakistan as a matter of its State policy. India has been a victim of such cross-border terrorism for more than two decades now. The year 2002 proved to be no different from 2001, as illustrated by the attack on the US Information Centre in Kolkata, the killings of innocent children, women and men in Kaluchak, the attacks on the Akshardham Temple in Gandhinagar and the Raghunath Temple in Jammu, and the storming of the CRPF Camp in Srinagar.

Pakistan has taken no significant action against training camps and infrastructural support to terrorism. This questions its claim to participate in the international struggle against terrorism. It also violates the UN Resolution 1373, which enjoins all countries that they shall not support terrorism in any way and for whatever cause. The assurances given by the leadership in Islamabad on the issue of cross-border terrorism remain unfulfilled. The Pakistani establishment does not appear to be interested in establishing tension-free and good-neighborly relations with India by ending its proxy war against our country.

Available reports suggest that the territories of Nepal and Bangladesh are now being used by the ISI to pursue its anti-India agenda. Therefore, we have to intensify our efforts to counter terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir and subversive activities both in those States that border these two countries and elsewhere.

Much to the discomfiture of the anti-India forces, the situation in Jammu & Kashmir is improving. The Assembly elections in October saw a big voter turnout despite the atmosphere of fear and violence sought to be created by Pakistan-backed groups. The free and fair elections were a victory for Indian democracy. The people gave a verdict for peace and rapid socio-economic development.

The immediate task before the Jammu and Kashmir Government is to strive to fulfill the legitimate aspirations of the people through a two-fold response: one, to strengthen the atmosphere of peace by dealing firmly with those intent on disturbing it; and secondly, to vigorously implement all developmental, welfare, and employment-generating programmes. The experience of Punjab has shown that our battle against terrorism entered a positive phase when the people themselves were helped to shed fear and actively isolate the militants. This is what needs to be achieved in the Kashmir Valley. The Central Government remains committed to providing all necessary support to the State Government for these two objectives.

Maintenance of peace and communal harmony is of over-riding importance for our internal security. This also frustrates those who wish to harm our national unity and integrity. The attacks on temples in Gandhinagar and Jammu failed to disturb communal peace. This shows us how to foil the provocation of hostile forces.

Sensitive issues, of course, have to be handled sensitively. We have to give full play to the power of dialogue and negotiations in our attempt to resolve disputes. When a dispute cannot be resolved through negotiations, the verdict of the judiciary has to be accepted by all concerned. No issue, howsoever justified in the eyes of one or the other party, can justify confrontation and communal violence. Law and the interests of the Nation are supreme.

However, the Nation has learnt at great cost that sensitive issues should not be left unresolved and to fester for too long. When circumstances bring such matters to the Court, people expect the judiciary to give its verdict expeditiously. This would enable all of us to leave behind contentious issues inherited from the past, and move on to deal confidently with the pressing tasks of nation building.

It is heartening to note that security in the North-East improved significantly in 2002. Our policy of sustained talks and negotiations to bring about peace is showing results. One round of peace talks has recently been concluded with Isak Muiwah group of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-I/M). After several rounds of negotiations abroad, these talks were held for the first time in India. Negotiations are also in progress with the Bodo Liberation Tigers. We are confident that our peace talks with BLT will soon yield a positive agreement. We hope that these peace talks would reach a decisive stage in the coming months.

Good governance is the most important component of our strategy to bring lasting peace to the region, and to reach the fruits of development to people belonging to all the diverse ethnic groups in the Northeastern States. Concerted efforts need to be made by the State Governments to ensure accelerated implementation of infrastructural projects, create employment opportunities, and promote harmonious and decentralized development with people’s participation. The Central Government will continue to provide all the necessary assistance in this regard.

The persisting problem of left-wing extremism in certain States is a matter of serious concern. It extends all the way from the Nepal border to Andhra Pradesh, covering as many as nine States. The situation is particularly worrisome, since it affects the most under-undeveloped parts of our country and thus hampers the efforts of the Central as well as the concerned State Governments to speed up development there. Today I would like to emphasize the need to remove all the shortcomings in intelligence-sharing and mounting well-coordinated anti-naxalite operations by the concerned States. If necessary, this should be done under a unified command.

State Governments should also accord a higher priority to the socio-economic development of the districts affected by left wing extremism. Here, scarcity of funds has not been the critical bottleneck; the problem lies in implementation. Experience has shown that, wherever governmental schemes and programmes have been implemented well, with the participation of local organizations, and through proper communication of our objectives, the people themselves have forced extremist elements to stay off. In particular, we must resolve to accelerate the development of physical and social infrastructure in this belt. In this context, I have a few specific suggestions.

Construction of rural and district roads in critical clusters, identified by MHA, may be taken up on priority under the Prime Minister’s Gram Sadak Yojana and with the Central Road Fund. If necessary, suitable relaxation in the guidelines may be made for the execution of these works.

Priority should also be accorded to integrated implementation, in the same clusters, of all the Central and State government schemes in healthcare, education, and employment generation, with maximum involvement of Panchayati Raj Institutions and local and community-based organizations.

States should post their most experienced and committed police and administrative officers in these districts.

The growth of organized crime is also affecting internal security. Organized crime requires a better organized response. Therefore, we need improved inter-agency coordination, particularly in sharing criminal intelligence. We also need to quickly create a comprehensive and online database on member of terrorist groups and organized crime syndicates. I understand that the Home Ministry has initiated necessary action in association with State Governments. This process should be expedited

Dear Chief Ministers, all of you will agree that the police station is the most important unit in our strategy to improve internal security. The Police Modernization Fund was the Central Government’s well-considered response to the long neglect of the basic needs of the police station. While some States have made good use of the available funds, I have to express my disappointment that several States have failed to do so. Some have not used even 50 percent of the funds available. I would like this conference to objectively review the performance of this scheme and come up with effective remedial measures. While the police stations need to improve, the citizens who come to the police stations must feel that the attitude and functioning of the policemen have also improved. All the studies have shown that where the police are people-friendly, the people in turn support the initiatives of the police. This increases the effectiveness of the police manifold. In this context, I cannot overemphasize the need for the police to behave with greater empathy and sensitivity while interacting with the poorer and weaker sections of society.

Effectiveness of the police requires reasonable continuity of tenure of officers at various levels. Frequent transfers demoralize policemen and harm our efforts to fight crime.

Better administration of criminal justice is vital for improving our internal security. I must say that our citizens are as disappointed as policemen themselves that the present system has inbuilt incentives for delays, which only benefit the lawbreaker. I hope that the Committee already constituted under Justice Malimath to look at the entire gamut of the administration of criminal justice comes up with credible solutions, both administrative and legal.

Friends, there has been a debate for perhaps too long on the need for setting up a Central Law Enforcement Agency to deal with well-defined federal crimes. There have been many incidents of terrorist, extremist, and criminal activities, which have inter-state, regional, and even international linkages. Several States have experienced the difficulties in dealing with such threats on their own. This has made people wonder why there cannot be prompt, well-coordinated and effective action in such cases. I would like this Conference to debate whether such an agency, bound by mutually-agreed operational norms and principles, would restrict the domain of State police forces or enhance their effectiveness. I would also like this debate to consider whether the proposed agency would help or hinder fulfillment of our Constitutional obligation to provide better security to our citizens. This Conference has a comprehensive agenda and contains important topical issues. I hope our deliberations will be fruitful.

Thank you~.