Manmohan Singh terms naxalism, terrorism, fundamentalism as key challenges

New Delhi, Feb 3 (ANI): Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh today termed Maoist violence, cross border terrorism and religious fundamentalism as key internal security challenges.

Addressing a conference of chief secretaries in New Delhi on Friday, Singh promised all possible assistance to the states in their efforts to deal with all internal security challenges.

"Serious challenges and threats, primarily from left wing extremism, cross border terrorism, religious fundamentalism and ethnic violence still persist. These need to be tackled with a firm and effective and yet sensitive hand," he said.

The Prime Minister said the internal security situation in the last one year was by and large peaceful and lauded the states in their efforts in maintaining peace.

"I must compliment the states for ensuring that the situation on the internal security front remains by and large stable in the last one year," he said.

Singh said the Central government will continue providing all possible assistance to the states in their efforts in this direction.

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh also stressed on a systemic response to reduce chances of corruption and to ensure transparency, accountability and probity in public life.

" We still have a long way to go in our efforts for ensuring transparency, accountability and probity in public life. I would urge all of you to ensure that the Centre and States work together to move ahead to achieve these goals." Dr. Singh said.

Emphasising that progress is also being made on a law to regulate public procurement, Dr. Singh said: "The Bill on Citizens Charter introduced in Parliament will empower citizens to demand services from government departments."

"The Electronic Delivery of Services Bill has also been introduced in Parliament and as the name suggests it provides for electronic delivery of public services to our citizens," he added.

He also said that the government hopes to enact a strong Lokpal law soon.

"Unfortunately, the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill could not be passed in the last session of Parliament last year. But we do hope that we would soon be able to enact a strong Lokpal law. We still have a long way to go," Dr. Singh added.

He further informed that the National e-Governance Plan is being implemented to make use of Information and Communication Technology to improve delivery of services to our people.

"We have made rapid progress in providing Aadhaar numbers to about 13 crore residents, which will help in improving the delivery of programs, particularly those meant for the poor and the under-privileged, and in eliminating leakages. We have also recently approved the coverage of an additional 40 crore residents under the Aadhaar scheme," he said.

"All this builds upon our earlier initiatives such as the Right to Information Act, the Judicial Accountability Bill and the Whistle Blowers Bill. But we still have a long way to go in our efforts for ensuring transparency, accountability and probity in public life. I would urge all of you to ensure that the Centre and States work together to move ahead to achieve these goals," he added. (ANI)