Terrorism, proxy war will not be tolerated: Manmohan Singh

New Delhi: In a significant statement the Indian prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh informed the parliament that the use of terrorism and proxy war would no longer be tolerated as instruments of state-policy. Also observing that there was an urgent need to restore a sense of security among countrymen Dr Singh on Thursday apologised for the Mumbai terror attacks that killed and injured hundreds.

His was the concluding speech on the special discussion on Mumbai terror in the Parliament today.

The Mumbai terror attacks, spread out over the period 26-29 November, killed 180 people, including scores of foreigners.

Stating that the attacks originated from Pakistan, Dr Singh asked that this country immediately dismantle its terror infrastructure. He also asked the international community to galvanise itself over the matter.

Significantly, the PM said that the use of terrorism and proxy war could no longer be tolerated as state-policy. "The use of terrorism as an instrument of state policy is no longer acceptable. There should be no double standards in the global fight against terrorism," he said.

At the level of concrete action, Dr Singh outlined a number of steps that the government would initiate in the coming days to beef up the security infrastructure in the country.

Specifically the PM had the following points to make: 

• Since there are currently multiple agencies tasked with coastal security, it has been decided that the sole responsibility of guarding the coastline would be entrusted to the Coast Guard. The Indian Navy would provide the necessary back-up support to the Coast Guard for this purpose. This would come into effect immediately.
• Special security and protective arrangements are being put in place for all major ports. Similar steps have been initiated for guarding sensitive installations in the vicinity of our shore line.
• Arrangements for securing our air space taking into account conventional as well as non-conventional threats have been streamlined. Real time monitoring of aircraft movement jointly by the Air Force and the civil authorities has begun. Air defence measures to prevent intrusion of rogue / unidentified aircraft are in place.
• The attacks highlighted the need to be able to act in response to such incidents with much greater speed. We have worked out a mechanism for a comprehensive crisis management response.
• It has already been decided that the National Security Guard should be decentralized and dispersed and should be located in major metropolitan areas. At the same time, arrangements must be put in place such that rapid response units can reach other locations without loss of time.
• Till such time as the strength of the NSG is increased, and new units are trained, the Special Forces available with the Army, the Air Force and the Navy and other civilian agencies will be used.
• Commando units would be created by each State.
• We have already decided to strengthen the legal framework to deal with terror and also to set up a national investigation agency. As promised by the Home Minister these Bills would be brought to the House at the earliest.
• As has been indicated, mechanisms have already been put in place to provide more timely intelligence to pre-empt future terrorist attacks. Daily meetings at the level of the Home Minister are being taken. The Multi Agency Centre of the Intelligence Bureau will be concentrating exclusively on collecting, collating and disseminating information relating to terrorist threats. Integration and coordination among the various intelligence agencies is being improved. The States have been requested to energize intelligence collection at the district level to produce more actionable intelligence.
• There is a general consensus that the long-term strengthening of security will only take place by strengthening the police establishment, particularly at the local level. We are committed to police modernization and will spare no effort and no resource to undertake this task within a definite timeframe.
• We must provide our security forces with the modern and sophisticated equipment they require to tackle the increasing sophistication of terrorist crimes.

Dr Singh concluded the speech saying that "since truth and righteousness were on our side, we will win."

He moved a resolution expressing the Parliament's 'sense of outrage'. The resolution was passed unanimously.