Govt has to deal firmly with those who believe in gun: Prez

NEW DELHI: Expressing serious concern over the emerging "metro terrorism" in the country, President Pratibha Patil on Tuesday said the Centre and the state governments will have to deal firmly with those who follow the gun culture.
     
Inaugurating a two-day conference of Governors here, which is being held to take stock of the internal security situation in the country, Patil said Saturday's serial blasts in Delhi is still afresh in everyone's mind and the emerging phenomenon of "metro terrorism" has become a matter of serious concern.
     
"State and Central governments have to deal firmly with those who follow the path and culture of guns. Both the governments have jointly adopted a multi-pronged conflict-management and conflict-resolution strategy," she said.
     
The conference is being attended by Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Defence Minister A K Antony, Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, Rural Development Minister Raghvansh Prasad Singh besides Governors and Lt Governors of states an union territories.
     
Describing the battle against terrorism, Left-wing extremism and insurgency as the big challenges before the country, Patil said outfits with varying goals have been waging a long and enduring war against the state with some forming a mutually supportive grid in this proxy warfare.
     
"Intervention by trans-border elements also poses a threat to our security and integrity. Left-wing extremism is fast becoming a vexed problem," she said.
     
Recalling her visit to Tangdhar in Jammu and Kashmir where security forces were guarding the border in hostile environment, the President said their operational efficiency needed constant upgrade.

On ways to tackle terrorism, the President said, "We need to modernise our police force with greater investments in cyber and technical intelligence, communication systems and forensic capabilities. There is need for an institutional mechanism to seamless+share intelligence on real-time basis to foil the attempts of terrorists and Naxalites."
     
She said insufficient number of police stations affects police outreach and a healthy police-population ratio needs to be maintained.
     
"It is for consideration whether the help of ex-servicemen who have experience in handling inimical forces could be enlisted in this effort. Some of the affected states, particularly in the North East, as reported, have a deficit of one-fifth of the sanctioned strength of constabulary," the President said.
     
Patil said fund allocations for security forces by the states have stagnated or grown only marginally which has a crippling effect on the efficacy of the law and order machinery and asked the Governors to provide the right lead in this direction.
     
The President termed the Naxalite problem as an expression of neglect, deprivation and disaffection among the downtrodden, saying the solution to it lies largely in the government's ability to deepen the democratic process, usher in good governance and rapid economic development.
     
"While not showing any leniency to disruptive and separatist elements, we have to sensitise our security personnel to exercise maximum possible restraint and show respect to local sentiments and gender sensitivity in the disturbed areas," she added.

The President said the aberrations of fundamentalism, violence and bloodshed have disturbed the equilibrium in the society and some states experienced communal and social strife which not only vitiated social harmony but also pulled back the nation economically.
    
"We have to exercise vigil to prevent such happenings. There is an imperative need to instill in our youth the philosophy and practice of tolerance, coexistence and harmony. We have to work together to create a sense of belonging, common consciousness and common destiny," she said.     

Referring to the insurgency in the Northeast, Patil said violence has no place in democracy and efforts must be taken to evolve an acceptable, peaceful political solution taking on board the unfulfilled aspirations and emotive sentiments of the people in these disturbed regions.
    
She described the ongoing Naga peace process as a positive development which needs to be speedily taken up to its logical culmination.
    
"It is equally critical that those who surrender receive all the benefits due to them under the rehabilitation package and as Governors you can play a watchful role," she said.     

Patil said since food security ranks first amongst our hierarchical needs, food availability with right nutrition content and assured accessibility has to occupy centre-stage in the country's economic activity.
    
Taking note that price-rise has become a pressure point in the economy, she said rise in food prices has the greatest impact on common man's inflationary paradigm.

"While such distortions cannot be corrected by a single stroke of action, there is a need to monitor pricing and streamlined flow of essential commodities," Patil said.
    
Congratulating the Prime Minister for the consensus adopted recently by the Nuclear Suppliers Group on civil nuclear cooperation with India, Patil said the waiver will help provide an enabling environment for clean energy.
    
The President said in view of these special provisions, there is a feeling in certain quarters that the Governor should play a pro-active role.
    
"On the other hand, it is understood that court judgments and debates in the Constituent Assembly provide that the Governor is bound by the advice of the Council of Ministers in the exercise of his powers under the Fifth Schedule.    

"This causes considerable uncertainty. Government could seek authoritative legal opinion to set at rest this ambiguity," she said.
    
Patil also favoured attention to another segment of the society -- the 21 lakh ex-servicemen and 4 lakh war-widows -- where there is both need and scope for improvement.
    
"The constant vigil of our security forces keeps us safe and secure. We must take special care of their welfare and rehabilitation," Patil said.