Indian PM renews conditional talks offer to freedom fighters

New Delhi —The Indian government is ready to talk to any disaffected section of the society but has “zero tolerance” towards terrorism, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh declared Saturday.
Speaking at the Harish Chandra Memorial National Seminar on Terrorism, Law and Development on the eve of Law Day here, Manmohan Singh also made it clear that while dealing with terrorism security forces should make every effort to ensure that innocent citizens are neither harmed nor subjected to undue harassment.
“While our government is willing to talk to any disaffected group prepared to abjure violence, it stands firmly committed to enforcing ‘zero tolerance to terrorism’ within the framework of our existing legal system,” Manmohan Singh said. He said apart from terrorism, India also faced the threat of insurgency and extremism in some parts.
“Here too, our response has to be clear and purposive. While pursuing development and empowering all sections of our society, we must also ensure that law and order is maintained and strengthened. No cause, real or imaginary, can ever justify pursuit of violence.”
The prime minister also came out strongly against blaming any one community for terrorism. “Terrorists have no religion or faith,” he said. “They do not belong to any community. No community or religion can and should be blamed for irresponsible and violent acts of a few individuals of that community or religion. Terrorists have to be dealt with as terrorists per se.”
Manmohan Singh said the government had taken many steps to improve intelligence collection system and intelligence sharing and for better coordination between various security agencies. “We also need to use relevant provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act to cut off the flow of funds to terrorist groups,” he said.
“We also need to streamline our investigation and prosecution machinery to apprehend culprits involved in acts of terrors. We have to pursue investigation and prosecution of such cases in a professional and scientific manner.
“At the same time, in our attempts to deal with terrorism the police and security agencies should make every determined effort to ensure that innocent citizens are neither harmed nor subjected to undue harassment.” He said judiciary at different levels also had to ensure that such cases were tried expeditiously and offenders brought to justice without undue delay.
“Certain and swift punishment is often effective deterrent to potential wrongdoers,” he said. The prime minister urged leaders of all communities “to ensure that the fringe elements seeking to disrupt our society are identified, isolated and, wherever possible, encouraged to join the national mainstream”.
Manmohan Singh paid tributes to Indians for standing united despite repeated terrorist attacks. “Our citizens have stood firm and united against attempts to disturb communal harmony. I have unwavering faith in the innate religiosity, secularism and patriotism of all our people.” Terrorism, he said, “poses today a serious danger to the economic stability of any civilized society.
“It subverts the economic and financial environment for growth and deprives ordinary men and women of their basic needs, and even livelihood. It also necessitates enhanced military and security expenditure.”—Agencies