Internal Security essential for India to become $5trillion Economy by 2024 : Shah

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : Union Home Affairs Minister Amit Shah on November 29, 2019, said that in a federal country like India there must be a holistic approach to internal security as the country has to fight the challenges of securing its borders, infiltration, fake currency, cyber-attacks and trafficking of humans, arms, narcotics and animals.

He said that this is all the more important as India has over 15,000 km land boundary, over 7,500 km coastline and a hostile neighbour always trying to sow the seeds of terrorism in the country. Addressing the concluding session of the 47^thAll India Police Science Congress at Lucknow, UP, on November 29 evening, Shah said that in the above context, it is of paramount importance to have an effective coordination between border security forces and State police, according to a PIB release.

Emphasizing on the importance of strengthening the internal security apparatus in the country, Shri Shah said that as India is a multi-lingual and multi-cultural Nation, enemy forces always try to take advantage of this diversity. He underlined that such attempts must be dealt in a very strong fashion and said that internal security in 21^st century cannot become fool proof unless all the State governments work in coordination and cohesion with the Central government.

The Home Minister said that the Central government has taken several steps like changes in the NIA Act and the upcoming changes in Arms Act, Narcotics Act and making IPC and CrPC, through suitable changes, reflect the ethos of India of 21^st century. He said that IPC and CrPC were enacted during the British rule to secure its empire but a free country like India must change its priority for a better future of the citizenry. He sought suggestions from State police departments, judges and lawyers, besides civil society to bring IPC and CrPC in line with a democratic functioning of the government. He added that the suggestions given by Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD) in this regard is being looked into by the Home Ministry.

The Home Minister also praised police for maintenance of effective law and order situation after abrogation of Article 370 and Supreme Court verdict on Ram Mandir. He also said that the measures like countrywide NRC and Citizenship (Amendment) Bill can be implemented with effective coordination between the Central and State security apparatus.

Shah talked about the government’s vision to establish a Central National Police University with affiliated colleges in each state, where students after 10^th standard can learn about law, forensic science, communications, Constitution and Police and coordination for creation of a specialised force. He also outlined the vision to establish a National Forensic Science University with an affiliated college in each State and forensic science lab in each district, to make prosecution and conviction more effective as he said that the rate of conviction in the country is at a pitiable level.

Shah also talked about establishing a Modus Operandi Bureau to study the psychological profile of crime and criminals for effective implementation of law and order. On a similar line, he talked about creating post of Director (Prosecution) in each State and the same must be institutionalised with full accountability and responsibility.

Praising the UP government led by Yogi Adityanath for effective handling of the law and order situation, the Home Minister said that this has been achieved because of high motivation and said that from constable to DGP must work as a team to get desired results.
Shah said that internal security is all the more important today as India is a huge market of 1.3 billion people and is at the centre stage of the world. He said that while in 2004, India was the 11^th economy in the world, in the last 5 years it has jumped to the 7^thposition and expressed hope that by 2024, India would become a $5trillion economy with a position in the top three global economies.