People-centric policies vital to deal with terrorism and naxalism

New Delhi, Sep 5 (UNI) Describing terrorism and naxalism as the phenomena that drew their strength from well-identified sources, Uttaranchal Chief Minister N D Tiwari today said the work for their elimination had to be rooted in socio-economic uplift of the affected areas.

Addressing the annual Chief Ministers Conference on internal security issues here, Mr Tiwari said the philosophy of violence and disturbance of public order were fuelled by the vain hope that ''the existing system has outrun its time and is fit to be replaced.'' His prescription to deal with the twin scourge of naxalism and terrorism was to put in place people-centric policies and have faith in genuineness of their problems.

''The government must be accessible to the people,'' he said.

Regarding Uttaranchal, he said the state government has had considerable success in keeping terrorist activities at bay by adopting well-directed strategies.

The Chief Minister informed that Seema Suraksha Bal (SSB) had taken over the control of the border, but the state had not been far behind in strengthening the areas adjoining the border.

''New police stations, outposts and observations posts are coming up in the state. Inductions in police force are being made. We have already set up one Indian Reserve battalion and another such battalion is on the way,'' he said.

Mr Tiwari said the state machinery was fully alert to terrorist threats as Uttaranchal had several important civil and military installations and places of national importance.

''The state police and intelligence are geared up to the task and the state government has sanctioned new equipment and capabilities to them,'' he added.

He also apprised that the four important centres of pilgrimage in the state -- Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri -- would soon be covered by a special security scheme.

Also, several important shrines of minorities, such as Piran Kaliyar, Hemkund Sahib and Ritha Sahib, besides a large number of Hindu shrines and places of pilgrimage were in the state, he said, adding that ''the state is blessed with a strong religious tolerance and, this is cause for comfort.'' The Chief Minister urged the Centre to ensure forces deployed along the international borders, especially the Indo-Nepal border, were strengthened. ''The border is porous and there is an immediate need to secure it,'' he said.

The basic issues in the campaign against terrorism and naxalism, he opined, should primarily relate to faster development and equitable distribution of resources and enhanced service delivery to the people.

In Uttaranchal, he said the Panchayati Raj system had been taken as a perfect tool to take the power to the people. Construction of an all-weather road along the Indo-Nepal border from Tanakpur to Jauljivi, Ghatiabagad-Lipulekh road and some bridges were required, he pointed out.

''Roads are essential for opening up areas for development, and development is the biggest deterrent to extremism in all its facets,'' he said.

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