Urgent need to strengthen global counter terrorism architecture: Rajnath at Interpol meet

Monaco, France: Addressing the Interpol General Assembly meet, Home Minister Rajnath Singh stressed upon the urgent need to strengthen global counter terrorism and called for a more powerful, result oriented cooperation to tackle international crime.

In his speech in Hindi – Rajnath became the first ever person to do so at Interpol – the Home Minister said, “The dynamics of globalisation and financial transactions across borders, have enabled international crime groups to expand their global reach.”

“The world is witnessing some cataclysmic changes as lethal non-state actors fired by toxic ideology turning into State themselves. Police and judicial systems have to evolve continuously to meet new challenges.”

“Outdated laws have to be weeded out with effective legislations that can address corruption, recovery and confiscation of ill-gotten wealth. Governments across the world have to collectively address the issue of safe havens for organized criminal and terrorist groups and their tainted money,” he said, adding, “The approach to combating organized crime and terrorism should focus on building police capabilities.”

The Home Minister reiterated India strong belief on the need for greater vigilance and stricter provisions so as to make off-shore jurisdiction more transparent.

“Lifting banking secrecy and the corporate veil in corruption and terrorist-related cases would go a long way in bringing the criminals to book. States must refrain from organising, instigating, facilitating, participating in, financing, encouraging or tolerating terrorist activities,” he said.

Congratulating the Interpol on completing its centenary this month, he lauded its contribution to international cooperation in law enforcement. “We want to see Interpol even more powerful, effective and result oriented,” Rajnath said.

Highlighting the increased use of the Internet and Social Media to instigate communal riots, Rajnath said, “We need to strengthen our strategy relating to cyber-crime on this momentous occasion of the centenary year of the Interpol.”

He also appreciated the initiative of Interpol in the development of E-Extradition tool and said the agency is best suited to observe the dark areas of Internet independently to track potentially harmful websites aiding terrorist activity.