[Reader-list] News Items posted on the net on Multipurpose National Identity Cards-86

[Taha Mehmood]

http://www.business-standard.com/india/storypage.php?autono=4274&tp=on

Business Standard

Kalam calls for national approach to fight terrorism
Press Trust of India / New Delhi August 14, 2006

Warning that the constant threat of low intensity proxy war and
terrorism has become a disturbing feature of national life and a new
face of war, President A P J Abdual Kalam today advocated a "national
approach" to eradicate terrorism in all forms and to provide citizens
security.

Addressing the nation on the eve of the 60th Independence Day, he,
however, skipped any reference to the controversial issue of Office of
Profit, a legislation on which is pending before him for assent.

Describing the issue of terrorism as one of national concern, the
75-year-old President said "we should transcend individual differences
of opinion and address it with a sense of unity. This is the need of
the hour."

He referred to the recent Mumbai blasts and said the phenomenon of
mindless violence was "continuously increasing."

Seeking intense cooperation among political, scientific,
administrative and industrial communities, he said the time has come
for them to comprehensively take stock of the entire situation in all
sectors of security.

Commending a three-phased approach to comprehensive security, the
President suggested to the Government and to both Houses of Parliament
to formulate a Citizens Security Bill with a national campaign for
eradication of terrorism, formulate an Energy Independence Bill and
adopt a resolution that India will be transformed into a safe,
prosperous, happy and socio-economically developed nation before 2020.

Kalam, who had "national awakening" as the theme of his 14-page
address, said "the constant threat of low intensity proxy war and
terrorism have become a disturbing feature of national life. This
constitutes the new face of war."

Seeking synergising of multiple agencies for forecasting and dealing
with terrorist activities, he said "we need to evolve a National
Campaign for Eradicate Terrorism (NCET) in our nation with mission
oriented integrated management structure and people's participation.

"It has been recognised that terrorism does not take place without any
planning. This may be originating from a master plan with global
umbilical connectivity extending to homes or hotels and guest houses."

He said NCET would facilitate working together of the intelligence and
security machinery both at the state and the central level to achieve
desired objectives besides acting as an alert and dynamic movement
which would prevent hotels and homes being used as a shelter by
terrorists and extremists.

The President said the states could consider introduction of national
identity cards and implement the National e-governance grid for all
governemnt to government, governemnt to citizens, business to business
and business to citizen transactions within two years time.

Emphasising that accelerated development has to be integrated with
peace missions, Kalam said the economic security of border regions
would itself become complemntary to territorial security required in
these zones.

Highlighting the urgency to fight terrorism, the President said "when
evil minds combine, good minds have to work together and combat."

"While we have the basic structure in the form of law, police cadres,
intelligence agencies and judicial system, we need to reinforce them
with required updates with a code of conduct.

Every citizen, every group, every religion and every political and
executive system should allow the law to function without
interference," the President said.

Referring to the threat of extremists groups in the northeasterns
parts, he said this required immediate, coordinated counter measures
including effective negotiations for restoring normalcy coupled with
economic development within the next three to five years.

Kalam, who visited some of the Mumbai blast victims in hospital, said
he felt the pain of many who lost their hearing ability, their limbs
fractured and amputated and spinal injuries leading to permanent
disability. The Maharashtra Government rose to the occasion to provide
financial relief for medical support obtained from private hospital.

Underpinning the need for sustained period of debate and decision
making in Parliament and in Government for comprehensive national
security "only in an environment of stable peace, can the nation
concentrate on social and economic development.