Kalam’s clarion call against Terrorism

New Delhi: Indian President Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam in his clarion call during Independence Day address urged for a new vigour in dealing with the terrorism and proxy wars going on without an ending.

Dr Kalam, who had “national awakening” as the theme of his 14-page address, said, “The constant threat of low intensity proxy war and terrorism have become a disturbing feature of national life. This constitutes the new face of war.”,He advocated a “national approach” to eradicate terrorism in all forms and to provide citizens security. “We should transcend individual differences of opinion and address it with a sense of unity. This is the need of the hour.”

He stressed the need for intense cooperation among political, scientific, administrative and industrial communities, he said the time has come for them to comprehensively take stock of the entire situation in all sectors of security.

He suggestedto the government and to formulate a citizens security bill with a national campaign for eradication of terrorism, formulate an energy independence bill and adopt a resolution that India will be transformed into a safe, prosperous, happy and socio-economically developed nation before 2020.

 â€œIt has been recognised that terrorism does not take place without any planning. This may be originating from a master plan with global umbilical connectivity extending to homes or hotels and guest houses.”

He said national campaign against terror would facilitate working together of the intelligence and security machinery both at the state and the central level to achieve desired objectives besides acting as an alert and dynamic movement which would prevent hotels and homes being used as a shelter by terrorists and extremists.

Dr Kalam said the economic security of border regions would itself become complementary to territorial security required in these zones.

Highlighting the urgency to fight terrorism, the President said “When evil minds combine, good minds have to work together and combat.”

“While we have the basic structure in the form of law, police cadres, intelligence agencies and judicial system, we need to reinforce them with required updates with a code of conduct.

“Every citizen, every group, every religion and every political and executive system should allow the law to function without interference,’’ the President said.

Referring to the threat of extremist groups in the northeastern parts, he said this required immediate, coordinated counter measures including effective negotiations for restoring normalcy coupled with economic development within the next three to five years.

He reminded the need for sustained period of debate and decision making in Parliament and in government for comprehensive national security only in an environment of stable peace, can the nation concentrate on social and economic development.