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States should ensure no one feels alienated: Advani

Josy Joseph in New Delhi

Union Home Minister L K Advani on Wednesday told a conference of state chief secretaries, home secretaries and directors general of police in New Delhi that it was necessary for state governments to ensure that no one feels alienated, aggrieved and marginalised. He said such people were targeted by anti-national elements to spread the message of hate and violence.

Today's preparatory meeting for the chief ministers' conference on internal security slated for August 5 discussed among other issues the recent spate of attacks on Christians, creation of a federal law enforcement agency and a new anti-terrorist law.

Advani said the nation has to meet the dangers posed by well-organised terrorists, anti-national elements and criminals fully supported from outside. "Terrorism, extremism, insurgency and increasing crime seem to have become a routine feature in many parts of the country. In the last 15 years, terrorism has claimed more lives than the casualties in all the wars that the country was forced to fight," he pointed out.

Blaming Pakistan for most of it, Advani said, "people are being misguided in the name of religion and ethnicity." He called for better governance at grassroots level so that the disenchantment that 'seems to be seeping into our society is removed'.

"It's necessary for the governments to ensure that no one feels alienated, aggrieved and marginalised. Our history, tradition and system of governance hardly leave any scope for such feelings. Yet, if such a feeling prevails in any quarter, that needs to be corrected. For such a segment of population is the target to be allured, misguided and exploited by our enemies to execute their nefarious designs," Advani said.

He said the north-east remains a major area of concern. Terrorism has not only disrupted normal life but also derailed the development process in the area. He stressed on the need to intensify the Border Areas Development Programme.

Pakistan seems to have become the headquarters for terrorists operating in a number of countries the world over. "Pakistan's aim is not confined to annexation of Jammu and Kashmir, but dismemberment of our country," he said.

State intelligence agencies and police organisations need to be strengthened. He observed that law enforcement in Bihar had become ineffective. "Extremist groups, private armies and warring caste groups are carrying out mass murders and carnage, and things do not appear to be improving," he said.

Despite their inability to deal effectively with cyber crime, terrorism and even kidnapping, states expressed reservations about creation of a federal law enforcement agency to deal with these issues, which effect the entire country.

Advani also pointed out to the inadequacy of the existing legal framework to distinguish between crimes against the state and ordinary crimes. In this context, the states fully supported the proposal for an anti-terrorism law to replace the defunct Terrorists and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act.

Home Secretary Kamal Pande said there was a general consensus on the need to have an anti-terrorist law legislated at the earliest. He said there was a need to amend the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act so that only genuine organisations involved in public welfare got access to foreign funds, not anti-national elements. It is proposed to involve District Collectors in the implementation of the Act.

Pande appreciated the Andhra Pradesh government for creating a database of its citizens while discussing issuance of multi-purpose identity cards to all citizens.

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