New Delhi: India has a "zero tolerance" policy towards terrorism and continues to remain vigilant against all forms of challenges posed by the menace, President Pratibha Patil said on Monday while addressing a joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament on the opening day of the Budget Session.
"Zero tolerance of terrorist activities is our principled policy. We have to keep constant watch and innovate against global terrorist groups," Patil said.
Detailing some measures taken by the government to strengthen the security apparatus, Patil said the establishment of the four National Security Guard (NSG) hubs, the operationalisation of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and strengthening the Multi-Agency Centre that analyses intelligence alerts on a real time basis had helped hinterland security.
"The overall internal security, law and order and the communal situation remained largely under control during 2009. Infiltration of terrorists from across the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir has gone up," she said.
"Even then, the security situation has improved significantly in Jammu and Kashmir as well as the Northeast, but left-wing extremism continues to be a significant cause of concern."
The President said that incidents of senseless violence by left-wing extremists (Maoists), resulting in the death of innocent people, strengthens the government's resolve to meet their challenge.
"Left-wing extremists continue to indulge in senseless violence, as in their recent attacks in West Bengal, where a large number of innocent lives have been lost. These cowardly acts strengthen our resolve to meet, with added vigour, the challenge posed by such violence," Patil said.
"My government has also given a call to left-wing extremists to abjure violence and come for talks. Our plan to strengthen the civil administration and bring the fruits of inclusive development to all would continue with determination," she added.
Talks with Pakistan
Meanwhile, expressing condolences to the families of the victims of the February 13 Pune terror blast President Patil said her government was ready to explore a "meaningful relationship" with Islamabad provided Pakistan effectively curbed anti-India terrorist activities emanating from its soil.
"India is ready to explore a meaningful relationship with Pakistan if Pakistan seriously addresses the threat of terrorism and takes effective steps to prevent terrorist activities against India," she said in her address.
The President's remark came as the Foreign Secretaries of India and Pakistan prepare to meet in New Delhi to resume bilateral talks on February 25. The talks are being held after a nearly 14-month freeze – since November 26, 2008 when terrorists attacked Mumbai.
Highlighting the government's foreign policies, Patil said India would continue its reconstruction work in Afghanistan.
"India's assistance to the reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan witnessed important milestones and we will continue to partner Afghanistan in its development efforts," she said.
Highlighting India’s growing stature in the world, the President said the country’s relations with major powers of the world had strengthened.
"Our relations with major powers have been further consolidated. The Prime Minister's visit to the USA laid the framework for the further expansion of the India-US partnership at the bilateral, regional and global level," Patil said.
"My visit to Russia and the visit by the prime minister have renewed our time-tested friendship and opened new areas of cooperation. Our strategic and cooperative partnership with China progressively acquired greater regional and global content. The visit of the Prime Minister of Japan underlined our mutual desire to accelerate our cooperation in all areas."
Inclusive Growth
Focussing on the government’s internal policies President Patil said the UPA was working "single-mindedly" to deliver the promise of inclusive growth for the "aam aadmi", who had to be protected against the "ravages" of the economic crisis and the failure of the monsoon in mid 2009.
"The aam aadmi (common man) was and is at the core of this promise," she said.
The President said the government's financial stimulus had yielded "handsome results" and the economic growth of India was likely to improve around 7.5 percent despite the meltdown.
"The global economic slowdown was met by strong policies of administering a domestic stimulus to the economy which has yielded handsome results. (The) economic growth which had slowed to 6.7 percent in 2008-09 is likely to improve to around 7.5 percent in 2009-10," she said.
"At a time when industrialised countries have experienced negative growth, India has continued to grow at an impressive rate," Patil added.
"We now look confidently to further improvement in our growth performance in 2010-11. My government will aim at a growth rate of above 8 percent in 2010-11 and seek to achieve 9 percent growth in 2011-12."
High Food Prices
During her 50-minute address, the President also spelt out some challenges faced in the past fiscal, and said although inflation remained a matter of concern, the price rise was inevitable given the shortfall of food production and the prevailing prices of rice, pulses, cereals and edible oils.
"While we were able to avert any threat to food security, there has been an unhappy pressure on the prices of food grain and food products," she said.
Listing the priorities of the government, the President said special attention will be paid to infrastructure, agriculture, rural development, education and health so that the growth process is adequately sensitive to the concerns of weaker sections.
Never before was India so close as it is today to realising the national aspirations as envisioned by the founding fathers, she said, adding: "Our country stands at a historic turning point."
The President also reiterated the government’s commitment to modernisation of armed forces, saying, “We will accord the highest priority to modernisation programmes to equip our armed forces with the required weaponry, equipment and platforms.”
The successful launch of the Agni-III missile, she said, is a shining example of the capabilities of Indian scientists and engineers who deserve full praise, Patil said.
Among other issues touched upon in her address, the President said her government was committed to the rapid development of infrastructure in the northeastern states. She also said the government was committed to meet the challenges of climate change, adding an ambitious solar mission has been initiated to generate 20,000 MW of clean power by 2022.
According to the President, her government had responded with alacrity to the swine flu or Influenza A (H1N1) pandemic and was in the process of developing an indigenous vaccine that would be available this year.
As regards the upcoming Commonwealth Games to be held in Delhi later this year, President Patil said all efforts will be made to ensure that the Games are successfully conducted.
"The country is hosting the prestigious 19th Commonwealth Games in October 2010. Preparations for the event are at an advanced stage. Every effort will be made to ensure a befitting and successful conduct of the Games," Patil said.
IANS
First Published: Monday, February 22, 2010, 15:13