'No good or bad terrorists' says Indian Premier
Reiterating his Sri Lankan counterpart President
Mahinda Rajapaksa's observations on terrorism, Indian Premier Manmohan
Singh asserted that "the use of terrorism as an instrument of state
policy is no longer acceptable", adding there should be "no double
standards in the global fight against terrorism as there are no good or
bad terrorists", yesterday (Dec 11) replying to the security debate at
the Lok Sabha, in the aftermath of the Mumbai terror attack.
"The infrastructure of terrorism has to be dismantled
permanently. The political will of the international community must be
translated into concrete and sustained action on the ground. It is time
for the international community to squarely confront the challenge of
terrorism," the Indian Premier further stressed.
Earlier, President Mahinda Rajapaksa made similar
observations during the keynote address delivered at the opening session
of the 15th SAARC Summit on 02nd August in Colombo. - "Terrorism
anywhere is terrorism and there are no good terrorists or bad
terrorists", he emphasized.
"You can't have two different attitudes towards
terrorism" President Rajapaksa was also quoted as saying during an
official visit made to the United Kingdom, this June. "I don't agree
that there are good terrorists and bad terrorists. There is only one
kind of terrorist", the President further asserted replying to questions
raised by international media on the ground operations against the LTTE
terrorists in Sri Lanka.
Meanwhile, admitting that the Mumbai tragedy had
highlighted gaps in the preparedness to deal with terrorists attacks,
Indian Prime Minister Singh urged the necessity to equip more
effectively to deal with such unprecedented threats and challenges
against India's integrity and unity.
Making the concluding remarks to his address, Prime
Minster Singh said, "I wish to say that it is in times of adversity that
the true mettle of a nation is tested. We must remain calm and be
resolute. We should stand firm as one nation and one people to meet this
challenge posed by terrorism.
"We will give a fitting rebuff to our enemies. The
idea of India as a functioning democracy and a pluralistic society is at
stake. This is a time for national unity and I seek your cooperation.
Truth and righteousness are on our side and together we shall prevail".
Tamil Nadu worries of possible LTTE infiltration:
The need for stronger measures to protect the Indian
coastline was also highlighted during the debate, as Premier Singh
conceded, "strengthening maritime security against asymmetric threats
from the sea, as a timely need".
The Indian Navy, coastal guard and Police have put-on
special security and protective arrangements in place for all major
ports and sensitive installations in the vicinity of India's shoreline,
Indian news agencies reported.
Meanwhile, according to same news sources, worries
have triggered in Tamil Nadu concerning possible LTTE terrorist
infiltration in the Eastern shores. The Indian Navy is concerned over
the arrival of empty boats, some with bullet marks, off Rameswaram coast
recently, Vice Admiral Nirmal Kumar Varma, Vishakapatinam, In-Charge of
the Eastern Naval Command was quoted saying with print and electronic
media today (Dec 12).
"This cannot be taken lightly. It is for the state
police and the Centre to find out reasons for the arrival of these
boats," he had told reporters.
Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu police in a press release
yesterday (Thursday) said that "thorough investigations" revealed that
the boats had apparently drifted from Sri Lanka due to the recent
cyclone.
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