Govt will modernise intelligence agencies: PM

New Delhi, Aug 15: The intelligence agencies and security forces will be modernised and strengthened to crush the ''ugly head'' of terrorism, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said.

Describing terrorism and naxalism as the ''two major threats'' to internal security, Dr Singh said the government would do it utmost to make the country safe and secure for every citizen.

''We will modernize, strengthen and properly equip our security forces and our intelligence agencies,'' Dr Singh said in his address to the nation on the 60th anniversary of independence.

Terming the July 11 Mumbai blasts as the ''most inhuman terrorist attack in the recent past'', Dr Singh said the terrorists want to undermine India's growing economic strength, destroy unity and provoke communal incidents.

''Our strength lies in our unity. We will not allow the secular fabric of our country to be broken,'' he said.

He said the government would leave no stone unturned in ensuring that terrorist elements in the country ''neutralized and smashed''.

''Let those who want to hurt us by inflicting a thousand cuts remember - no one can break our will, or unity. No one can make India kneel,'' he said.

In his speech, Dr Singh praised the people of Mumbai for demonstrating courage and patience and showing the resolve not to be cowed down by the terrorist attack.

On naxalism, he said power would never flow from the barrel of the gun but from the ballot box and the security forces would respond ''appropriately'' to the violence unleashed by the naxalites.

He, however, said the naxalism-affected states should pay special attention to the welfare of the tribals and small and marginal farmers. ''It is their distress that Naxalites exploit.'' On the insurgency in the North-East, Dr Singh said there was a great desire among the people of the region for peace and tranquility. While the government was determined to tackle insurgency, it was hopeful that the dialogue initiated with many insurgent groups would produce a ''peace dividend''.

Though the people of Jammu and Kashmir continue to face the wrath of terrorism, there has also been new rays of hope for peace and progress in the state, he said pointing out the new links of connectivity on both sides of the Line of Control through the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalkot bus services and the Round Table with political groups and parties of the state.

UNI

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