'Disposal of terror cases vital to tackle menace'

New Delhi, Nov 25: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today appealed to the Judiciary to play a vital role in tackling terrorism, against which the government has a zero tolerance approach.

''Certain and swift punishment is often effective deterrent to potential wrongdoers,'' Dr Singh said while addressing the Harish Chandra Memorial National Seminar on the eve of Law Day.

The seminar was on terrorism, law and development.

Dwelling at length on terrorism, insurgency and extremism, the Prime Minister said terror, in particular, posed a serious danger to the economic stability of any civilised society.

Terrorism subverted the economic and financial environment for growth and deprived ordinary men and women of their basic needs, and even livelihood.

It also necessitated enhanced military and security expenditure which under more normal conditions could have been devoted to tackling the problems of poverty, ignorance and disease.

Observing that terrorism had taken different forms, Dr Singh said having large financial and material resources at their disposal, terrorist groups were today able to use modern communication systems and state-of-the-art technology to pursue their agenda.

Terrorists had become far more sophisticated, better networked and also highly motivated in carrying out their nefarious designs. A matter of extreme concern was also their linkage with organized crime, like drug trafficking, gun running, counterfeit currency, and money-laundering.

''Terrorism therefore has emerged as one of the most serious threats to international peace as well. Terrorists do not believe in democracy and the rule of law. They are against all tenets of a civilized society. Terrorism is essentially the outcome of pursuit extremism and intolerance,'' the Prime Minister said.

Relevant provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act should be effectively used to cut off flow of fund to terrorists. The Prime Minister also urged leaders of all communities to ensure that fringe elements seeking to disrupt society were identified, isolated and wherever possible, encouraged to join the national mainstream.

At the function, Dr Singh presented National Law Day Awards, 2006 to eminent jurists and also launched a website, www.indii.org. He was presented a copy of the Indian Constitution to mark the event.

Among those present were Law Minister Hansraj Bhardwaj, Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Minister of State for Law and Justice K Venkatapathy, Attorney General Milon Banerji, Mr V Narayanswamy, President of Indian Council of Jurists, Justice Rangnath Mishra, Justice Ashok Mathur, Justice R C Lahoti and Mr Adish C Aggarwala, Chairman, Bar Association of India.

Dr Singh said ''it goes without saying that the development and the rule of law are mutually inter-related and therefore any threat to peace is a stumbling block for sustained development.'' Apart from terrorism, the country was also facing the threat of insurgency and extremism in some regions.

Here too, the response had to be clear and purposive. While pursuing development and empowering all sections of society, the government had to ensure that law and order was maintained and strengthened.

No cause, real or imaginary, could ever justify the pursuit of violence. No democratic government could tolerate the targeted killing of innocent citizens.

''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,'' Dr Singh said.

UNI