Centre-state cooperation is must: Shivraj Patil

Panaji, Sep 20 (UNI) The Centre and the states should function in ''unison and coordination'' to achieve desired results, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil today emphasised.

''They cannot and should not refuse help to each other by pointing fingers at certain provisions of the laws,'' Mr Patil told the 20th meeting of the Western Zonal Council here today.

The crucial meeting, which reviewed security concerns of the western region, was attended by chief ministers of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Goa besides two Union Ministers of State for Home and top officials from these states and Daman and Diu.

Expressing ''satisfaction over the cooperation'' between the Centre and the states so far, Mr Patil observed, ''This understanding gives great strength to the security forces. It should be continued unabated and unrestricted.'' The Union Minister enlisted effective steps for strengthening internal security which, according to the Constitution, is the responsibility of the Union Government and states need to play a vital role in promoting it.

Strengthening of police forces by raising new battalions, filling up of vacancies, providing latest weapons, transportation and communication facilities, training, raising the population of police ratio to an acceptable level, and use of private security agencies were some of the steps the states had to undertake, he said.

Reiterating the need for strengthening intelligence at all levels, Mr Patil asked the police and intelligence agencies to utilise the services of private security and detective agencies ''as per law, plans and agreements for the purpose''.

The Home Minister also called for inventing ''new systems'' by combining the old and modern systems of intelligence gathering.

The Home Minister urged the police to track down ''the sleeping cells of different terrorist outfits'' before they become ''active to strike''.

Tackling terrorists, who were waging ''mini-wars'' against governments inimical to them, required huge funds and this in turn called for adequate budgetary allocation by respective state governments, he said.

''The problems of security cannot be solved only with the help of armed forces but by other means like economic advancement, social justice, employment, education, ethos-building, land reforms, distribution of house sites to the poor, and allowing tribals to use forest produce, all providing for speedy justice to help the needy and the weak,'' Mr Patil said.

He also called for extra vigil at likely terrorist targets like modern markets, laboratories, installations and places of worship.

He said the states should use the Centre's assistance like use of helicopters, armoured vehicles, modern weapons, intelligence and funds, properly so that resources never remained unutilised.

''Men of any religion are neither criminals nor angels. They should not be treated as criminals as such. Only those found guilty should be punished and it should be ensured that innocent people are not punished,'' Mr Patil appealed to the states.

The subjects of discussion at the meeting were confined to internal security, terrorism, law and order, communal harmony, new crimes and steps to handle them with the involvement and cooperation of the respective state governments.

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