Indian President calls for eradication of terrorism
Describing the issue of terrorism as one of national concern,
75-year-old President Abdul Kalam of India in his address on the eve of
60th Independence Day said, "We should transcend individual differences
of opinion and address it with a sense of unity. This is the need of the
hour". He referred to the recent Mumbai blasts and said the phenomenon
of mindless violence was "continuously increasing".
Seeking intense cooperation among political, scientific,
administrative and industrial communities, he said the time has come for
them to comprehensively take stock of the entire situation in all
sectors of security.
Citizens security bill
Commending a three-phased approach to comprehensive security, the
President suggested to the government and to both houses of Parliament
to formulate a citizens security bill with a national campaign for
eradication of terrorism, formulate an energy independence bill and
adopt a resolution that India will be transformed into a safe,
prosperous, happy and socio-economically developed nation before 2020.
Dr Kalam, who had "national awakening" as the theme of his 14-page
address, said.
"The constant threat of low intensity proxy war and terrorism have
become a disturbing feature of national life. This constitutes the new
face of war. "Seeking synergising of multiple agencies for forecasting
and dealing with terrorist activities, he said, We need to evolve a
national campaign to eradicate terrorism in our nation with mission
oriented integrated management structure and people's participation.
"It has been recognised that terrorism does not take place without
any planning. This may be originating from a master plan with global
umbilical connectivity extending to homes or hotels and guest houses".
He said national campaign against terror would facilitate working
together of the intelligence and security machinery both at the state
and the central level to achieve desired objectives besides acting as an
alert and dynamic movement which would prevent hotels and homes being
used as a shelter by terrorists and extremists.
The President said the states could consider introduction of national
identity cards and implement the national e-governance grid for all
government to government, government to citizens, business to business
and business to citizen transactions within two years time.
Good minds need to work together
Emphasising that accelerated development has to be integrated with
peace missions, Dr Kalam said the economic security of border regions
would itself become complementary to territorial security required in
these zones. Highlighting the urgency to fight terrorism, the President
said "When evil minds combine, good minds have to work together and
combat". "While we have the basic structure in the form of law, police
cadres, intelligence agencies and judicial system, we need to reinforce
them with required updates with a code of conduct.
Every citizen, every group, every religion and every political and
executive system should allow the law to function without interference,
the President said. Referring to the threat of extremist groups in the
northeastern parts, he said this required immediate, coordinated counter
measures including effective negotiations for restoring normalcy coupled
with economic development within the next three to five years. Dr Kalam,
who visited some of the Mumbai blast victims in hospital, said he felt
the pain of many who lost their hearing ability, their limbs fractured
and amputated and spinal injuries leading to permanent disability. The
Maharashtra government rose to the occasion to provide financial relief
for medical support obtained from private hospital.
Underpinning the need for sustained period of debate and decision
making in Parliament and in government for comprehensive national
security only in an environment of stable peace, can the nation
concentrate on social and economic development. Touching on energy
security, the President said that with cooperation of certain states,
the country should aim to mine enough uranium.
Expressing the confidence that India has the capability to build its
own thorium-based reactor, he said this would enable it to be
self-reliant, secure and independent in nuclear energy.
Enhancement in coal production
Noting that the country was running out of oil and natural gas based
on fossil fuel, he asked the nation to gear up for enhanced production
of coal and clean coal technologies and reduce heavy dependence on
imports.
Contending that 75 per cent of the 114 million tonne of oil imported
every year was used in the transport sector, he said, "We have to
concentrate on bio-diesel and renewable energies". In harnessing solar
energy, there was need to set up infrastructure and capabilities for a
nano-technology resolution that has the potential to find solution for
new forms of solar cells, more efficient, less costly and abundantly
available, he said, adding "Our goal by 2030 is to generate 50,000
megawatt of power from renewable energy sources".
|