NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 20: Calling Naxalism the single biggest threat and a “virus” that needs to be “eliminated”, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today linked economic inequality to internal security when he said “uneven development” was giving rise to many of the security problems within.
“Development and internal security are two sides of the same coin. Each is critically dependent on the other. Often, the lack of development and the lack of any prospects for improving one’s lot provide a fertile ground for extremist ideologies to flourish,” Singh told a meeting of chief ministers called to discuss internal security.
“In many cases internal security problems arise out of uneven development and we need to address this issue if we are to make any long-term headway in combating extremist elements.” A large proportion of recruits to extremist groups, Singh said, came from “deprived or marginalised backgrounds or from regions which somehow seem disaffected by the vibrant growth in many other parts of the country.”
Recalling his remarks at the National Development Council meeting yesterday, the Prime Minister expressed concern over the “developmental divides” opening up in the country — “the inter-regional divide, the rural-urban divide and the inter-sectoral divide”.
“These divides and disparities lead to disaffection, large-scale migration and discord,” Singh said.
He pointed out that in some states, Naxalites had become involved in “local struggles relating to land and other rights”. They were also targeting vital economic infrastructure to cripple transport and logistics and slow down development. “This helps them sustain their ideology of deprivation and neglect,” Singh said.
After the day-long discussion, the Prime Minister said the Cabinet Secretary would be asked to chair a Task
Force to “promote coordinated efforts across a range of development and security activities” to tackle the Naxal problem in a comprehensive manner.
His description of Naxalism also seemed to spur some action with several affected states agreeing to look at Special Task Forces to tackle it on the lines of Andhra Pradesh where the state police have an elite force, the Greyhounds, for anti-Naxal operations.
Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil said his Ministry would set up a Task Force to deal with Naxalism and secessionist movements. There were indications that the CRPF would also look at creating a dedicated, specially trained group within the force for anti-Naxal operations.
Recalling the recent terror strikes in Hyderabad, Ajmer, Ludhiana and Uttar Pradesh, the Prime Minister said the reach of the terrorists was such that “no one can say that they are fully immune from such attacks”. Actionable intelligence, Singh said, was the need of the moment.
“The key to success in fighting terror is intelligence. And intelligence needs to be precise and capable of being acted upon,” he said.
