5/03/2010

Brief Points made by Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu while initiating the discussion on working of the Ministry of Home Affairs in Rajya Sabha

Brief Points made by
Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu, MP and
Former President, BJP

while initiating the discussion on working of the Ministry of Home Affairs in Rajya Sabha
 
While initiating the discussion on the working of the Ministry of Home Affairs in Rajya Sabha on 03/05/2010 Shri Venkaiah Naidu has made the following points:-

He has observed that the country is facing multi-dimensional challenges on security front with terrorism, insurgency, left wing extremism being major threats. This responsibility to counter these threats casts on all political parties - ruling or opposition, well-meaning organizations, media and the people of the country. Any support. direct or indirect, advertently or inadvertently, is going to harm the progress and future of the country. There is no meaning in denigrating the system and thereby justifying the actions of these forces. He said we try to combine religion with terror which is not in the interest of the country.  He said that A terrorist is a terrorist.  He has no religion. Are we talking about Maoists’ religion?  Why you should talk about the terrorist religion alone?

Speaking on the internal security situation, Shri Naidu worried about the fragile nature of internal security situation in the country. While referring to the various statements of the Prime Minister and the Home Minister describing the left wing extremism as the gravest threat to our internal security he questioned why they don’t walk their talk.  He also said that How can the problem be tackled with an incoherent government in place, a divided cabinet playing spoil sport and party leaders out with cross purposes?  There is no cohesion, no coordination, no cooperation.

He said the Congress and its allies confuse and combine terror with religion and as a result the chorus that minorities are being harassed. This is what Pakistan is also wanting.

Referring to Shri Mani Shankar Aiyar’s statement holding the Central and State governments responsible for naxalism he reminded them of the fact that the Congress party has been in power for the longest number of years both at the Centre and in the States.

He referred to the opinion of various leading security experts who have said that that when the external forces failed to defeat India in direct warfare, they stared aiding and creating forces to cause internal disturbance in the form of terror attacks, Maoist and Naxalite insurgency, armed insurgency in the North East and J&K.

Mr. Naidu quoted the statistics of the Home Ministry to show that naxal attacks and the resultant deaths have been on the rise.  He said - Talks or no talks - Rule of Law must prevail. Violence must stop.  Violence impedes development.  Lack of development leads to unrest.  Unrest is the least we could afford.  Hot pursuit is the only option left for the government. Criticizing the so-called civil rights activists he said they have no understanding of the ground realities and sufferings of the people.

While pointing out that only 24 out of 37 India Reserve battalions have so far been sanctioned, he wanted the government to expedite the process.

Shri Naidu reiterated that the BJP stands firmly by the government in its efforts to cleanse the naxal menace.

He said the BJP strongly believe that the government’s approach must be three-pronged – (i) educate the people about the hollowness of the ideology of naxals, (ii) improve counter-insurgency operations against the naxals and strengthen the security forces, and (iii) provide better governance/administration to hasten the process of development.  

He stressed the point that Maoism is not any state-specific and that the states alone cannot fight this menace.   It is a national political challenge and the basic responsibility lies with the Union Government.

While referring to the ineffective intelligence mechanism he said that Pune blasts took place despite Ram Pradhan Committee’s forewarning that Pune was a possible target. He also said that we have not learnt the lessons of 26/11. He cautioned the government to be extra vigilant as New Delhi will host the Commonwealth Games later this year.  He also voiced the concern that intelligence reports reaching the States are casual and not specific and actionable.

Referring to the Batla House Encounter, Shri Naidu said they combine terror with religion for the sake of their vote bank considerations. He cited the example of how some of the important Congress leaders including Ministers and Party’s General Secretaries endorsed claims that action by the Delhi Police at Batla House was a fake encounter and sought CBI inquiry into the incident. He also stated that some Congress leaders have converted suspected dens of terrorists as places of political pilgrimage. One of the General Secretaries even visited Azamgarh to meet the family members and people having terrorist connections. This is nothing but cheap vote bank politics.

While referring to the Home Minister’s proposal of granting amnesty offer to PoK youth, he said such a proposal is dangerous to the country’s security.

Referring to Assam, Shri Naidu pointed out that infiltration from across borders has become a grave threat to the integrity and security of our country. The State was the worst victim of infiltration of Bangladeshi nationals.  The Congress party has apportioned these infiltrators as their vote banks and has, time and again, resisted their detection and deportation by enacting the controversial IMDT Act, 1983 which was ultimately struck down by the Supreme Court in July 2005 as unconstitutional.

Shri Naidu drew the attention of the House to the Supreme Court’s judgement in Sarbananda Sonowal’s case.  He cited the SC’s observation : “The presence of such a large number of illegal migrants from Bangladesh, which runs into millions, is in fact an aggression on the State of Assam and has also contributed significantly in causing serious internal disturbances in the shape of insurgency of alarming proportions.”

He also said that the Supreme Court has rapped the UPA government twice on this issue. Once when it struck down the IMDT Act as ‘unconstitutional’ and the second time when the Government tried to bring in the very unconstitutional provisions of the IMDT as an amendment into the Foreigners Act, which too was struck down by the apex court.

Future generations will not forgive intentional failure to counter “external aggression” in Assam
 
He mentioned that there are reports suggesting that in Manipur Government officers including their CM are regularly paying monthly ransom to underground elements. He said if these were true, something needed to be done urgently.

He drew the attention of the Home Minister to his speech of 23rd Dec ’09 in which he proposed to establish a National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) by the end of 2010. Mr. Naidu wanted the Home Minister to explain to the house what has happened to that proposal.

He questioned the discriminatory attitude of the government adopted in the case GUJCOC.  He asked the government why it is opposing the provisions in GUJCOC which are already part of similar laws in Karnataka and Maharashtra? He also mentioned the fact that recently the Supreme Court upheld the provisions of MOCCACO.

He underscored the poor police-population ratio (130 per 1 lakh population) which is way below the international average of about 270.  He said that the situation in the States most affected by naxalism is even worse.  The deficit ranges from 11 to 33%.
 
Shri Naidu quoted the NCRB estimates to say that Delhi has one of the highest crime rates in the country with 357 cases per one lakh people when the national average is 168. He said that even the High Court has called Delhi the crime Capital of India.

On the issue of National Population Register, he feared the exercise of NPR opens a possibility for any illegal immigrant to legitimise his status as a resident and national of India. The question regarding Nationality is not something which can be left to the respondent to answer; it must be determined and verified by the authorities on the basis of documentary and other evidence.

On the issue of Telangana he said that the Sri Krishna Committee is a futile exercise. Telangana is basically a political issue.  He said a political decision needs to be taken after taking everybody’s views.  While pointing out that he has nothing against Justice Sri Krishna and other members of the Committee and their competence, he questioned the statutory authority of the Sri Krishna Committee?

While expressing his satisfaction on Kasab’s conviction in 26/11 case, he hoped that the government would act fast on the case unlike in the case of Afjal Guru.
 

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