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| Cross border terrorism threat persists, observes Chidrambram | | |
AGENCIES
New Delhi Sept 14: Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Monday expressed deep concern over terrorism emanating from across the border, saying it continues to remain a persistent threat to India’s security.
Inaugurating a two-day security conference of Directors General of Police and Inspectors General of Police at Vigyan Bhavan here, Chidambaram said groups like Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad continue to plan terror strikes in India. He added that local support to Pakistan-based terror groups has not ended.
While saying India was facing formidable security threats, the Home Minister said the Mumbai terror attacks of November 26-29, 2008 were a game changer.
The minister also announced plans to set up a National Counter Terrorism Centre, assuring the government’s response to terror will be swift and effective. He also expressed concern on Naxalism in the country, saying violence by left-wing extremists was on the rise. Urging Maoists to shun violence, Chidambaram said the Naxals were linking up with insurgents in the Northeast. He stated firmly that the government will not tolerate terror in the Northeast, while informing that Manipur continues to remain the most insurgency-prone state.
Meanwhile, coming down heavily on state police chiefs for arbitrarily transferring senior officers, Home Minister P. Chidambaram said Monday that many police personnel had been reduced to footballs, being kicked from one post to the other.
"It is a matter of deep regret that many police officers have been reduced to a football, to be kicked here and there, from one post to another, without regard to the damage done to the job as well as the officer," Chidambaram said.
State governments also drew flak from Chidambaram for their callous mindset towards security issues, reflected in the non-transparent recruitment procedures and ad-hoc transfer of police officers.
"I ask you to search your hearts and answer the question, what is the average length of tenure of a district superintendent of police? What is the average length of tenure of a station house officer? Why do you remain silent when arbitrary postings and transfers are made by the state government," Chidambaram queried.
State governments, he said, had been unwilling to revamp their recruitment procedure to make it time bound and increase transparency.
"Is it not your duty, as the head of the state police, to raise your voice not only on behalf of your officers but also on behalf of the people that you are duty bound to protect? As one famous judge said, 'When there is a duty to speak, silence is culpable'."
Another area of concern Chidambaram highlighted was the issue of funds. Urging state governments to grant "adequate funds" to the police, he said states generally give residual money, after allocation for other schemes, to the police.
"Given the constitutional responsibility, state governments must provide adequate funds for the state police. In fact, security of the state must be the first charge on the state exchequer. However, I find that many states take the exact opposite route and allot only the residue -- after providing for other plan and non-plan schemes -- to the head of 'police'."
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will have an interactive session with the DGPs and IGPs tomorrow during which he will be directly briefed on key policing and internal security issues.
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