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National security is highest priority: President

Declaring that India is according highest priority to national security, President K R Narayanan on Monday said far-reaching reforms are being carried out in higher defence management, leading to closer coordination among the three services and integration of military and civilian defence structures.

A separate Defence Procurement Board has been set up to speed up defence purchases, make them more responsive to needs of the armed forces, and to bring greater transparency in procurement, he told a joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament, marking the beginning of the Budget Session.

Lauding defence scientists and engineers for last month's successful test of a variant of Agni missile with a range of 700 kms, Narayanan said, "Coupled with other missiles, which we have already tested, this will strengthen India's defence against any military adventures aimed at us."

On the country's continuous quest for self-reliance, the President said the manufacture of several types of defence equipment has been opened up to the private sector to allow national security to benefit from impressive capabilities developed in recent decades by private Indian companies.

"They may now apply for licences to set up defence industries, and to establish collaborations with public sector defence undertakings," he said, maintaining that such companies could also have foreign direct investment of up to 26 per cent of the equity.

In his 22-page address, he said, "This will impart a new vigour to indigenous defence production and exports."

Describing the December 13 attack on Parliament as an unprecedented terrorist attack, the President said this was the nadir of a long list of reprehensible acts in a 20-year-old campaign of cross-border terrorism in India.

The investigation into this conspiracy has clearly revealed the hand of terrorist organisations, which have for long operated from Pakistani soil with the support of the ruling establishment of that country, he said.

"It is now established that these terror outfits are closely aligned through ideology, inspiration, resources and logistics to those who carried out the terrorist attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001."

Making it clear that India was determined to end cross-border terrorism by all means at its command, Narayanan said, "The brave jawans and officers of our armed forces have been fully mobilised on our western borders and have maintained vigil despite difficult conditions. The necessary level of military strength and military preparedness will be maintained to deter any aggression."

The President said on the parallel track India has taken several diplomatic and political measures against Pakistan like intensification of efforts to increase awareness among governments and people of other countries 'on our just struggle against cross-border terrorism'.

In an apparent attack on Pakistan's policy he said, "We have emphasised that terrorism cannot be condemned somewhere and condoned elsewhere. The fight against terrorism has to be global and comprehensive. It should target not only the terrorists, but also those who sponsor, finance, support or shelter them."

Maintaining that there was far greater appreciation and support abroad for India's position than ever before, he said an illustration of this was the success in persuading the United Arab Emirates to hand over a key accused in the recent terror attack in Kolkata.

Narayanan said the entire nation was united in the decisive phase of the battle against terrorism and a complete consensus among political parties has once again demonstrated the maturity and greatness of Indian democracy.

Referring to the Pakistani invitations to India for talks, the President said, "We keep hearing calls of resumption of dialogue with Pakistan. Terrorism and dialogue cannot go together. Recent history is witness to the fact that, whereas India has always been ready for meaningful and fruitful talks with Pakistan, it is Pakistan that has ensured their failure with its acts of betrayal."

"We also demand that Islamabad hand over to us the 20 terrorists who have committed grave crimes in India and who continue to receive shelter in Pakistan,'' the President stressed.

He made it clear that 'positive action by Islamabad on these demands is the test of its sincerity to end its hostility against India and to pave the way for discussing all the outstanding issues, including that of J&K, in a peaceful manner, through bilateral dialogue'.

Dwelling at length on the scourge of terrorism, Narayanan said had the December 13 'diabolical plot' to carry out large-scale annihilation of leaders of different political parties and peoples' representatives succeeded, it would have resulted in a catastrophe of unthinkable proportions.

In the address, Narayanan spelt out the government's stand on a variety of issues including tackling terrorism and organised crime, strategy to deal with internal situation in Jammu and Kashmir and set the reform agenda for the Union Budget 2002-03 through radical agriculture and power sector reforms to revive the economy to achieve eight per cent growth.

On Ayodhya, he said the government was duty bound to maintain the status quo at the disputed site.

Noting that Ayodhya dispute is one of the contentious issues before the nation, he said, "Its amicable and speedy resolution is crucial for communal harmony and national integration. The government is firmly of the view that this dispute can be resolved, either through mutual agreement among all the parties concerned, or through a verdict of the judiciary."

To facilitate a resolution of this dispute an Ayodhya cell has been recently created in the Cabinet Secretariat, he said.

"The government, being the statutory receiver, is duty bound to maintain the status quo at the disputed site in Ayodhya," he said, adding that it would also ensure that all necessary measures will be taken to ensure the preservation of law and order.

Defending the government's decision to re-promulgate POTO, Narayanan said the government thought it necessary to put in place a federal law to deal effectively and expeditiously with terrorist offences.

The President said the government took care to seek suggestions from various political parties and made suitable modifications before re-promulgating POTO.

Giving the rationale behind the measure, he said, "Today terrorism and organised crime pose the most serious threat to internal security. They also endanger our external security and our national unity because of their well-known links to anti-India forces in our neighbourhood."

Narayanan said the government has a clear strategy to deal with the internal situation in Jammu and Kashmir, which includes talking with any group of people within the state who eschew the path of violence and who have legitimate grievances.

He was hopeful that the forthcoming assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir would help return of normalcy and accelerate the process of all-round development of the state.

Saying that the government attaches the highest priority to national security, he said far-reaching reforms were being carried out in the higher defence management based on the recommendations of the Group of Ministers.

On Defence, the President said in the quest for self-reliance, the manufacture of many types of defence equipment has been opened up to the private sector, so that national security can benefit from the impressive capabilities developed in recent decades by private Indian companies.

"They may now apply for licenses to set up defence industries, and to establish collaborations with public sector defence undertakings. Such companies can also have foreign direct investment of up to 26 per cent of the equity. This will impart a new vigour to indigenous defence production and exports," he said.

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