Against the backdrop of Mumbai terror attacks, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said the government will redouble its efforts to root out terrorism and Naxalism, and assured all help to the states in this regard.
"After the horrific terror attacks in Mumbai last November, our government has taken many steps against terrorism. The Central government will redouble its efforts to deal with Naxalite activities," Singh said in his address to the nation from Red Fort on the occasion of 63rd Independence Day.
He said the government would extend all help to the states to make their police forces more effective and that the central forces would be provided wherever they were needed.
"We will also do more to ensure better coordination among states," he added.
Slamming Maoist violence, Singh said, "Those who think that they can seize power by recourse to the gun do not understand the strength of our democracy."
Referring to the government's constitutional obligation to protect the life and liberty of citizens, the Prime Minister said the Centre would endeavour to remove the causes of social and economic dissatisfaction, which gave rise to problems like Naxalism.
Noting that terrorism and Naxalism were emerging as a threat to peace and harmony worldwide, the Prime Minister said the country's intelligence and security agencies were being upgraded to root out terrorist activities.
"Terrorism has emerged as a threat to peace and harmony in all parts of the world. Some parts of our country continue to be affected by the Naxalite menace," he said.
The Prime Minister said the government believed in a development process which will remove backwardness, unemployment and reduce disparities in income and wealth.
"We seek active partnership of our brothers and sisters of Schuduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in our development processes," he added.
"I am sure that with cooperation from all sections of our society, we will be successful in eliminating terrorism from our country," the Prime Minister added.
