India to set up federal spy agency
In the wake of Mumbai terror attacks, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh on Sunday said the Government has decided to set up a Federal
Investigation Agency (FIA), strengthen air and maritime security and
create four NSG hubs in various parts of the country.
Sharing the country's "anger and outrage" over the Mumbai attacks, he
appealed to parties to rise above political considerations to meet the
challenge unitedly.
"Terrorists and enemies of our nation must know that their actions
unite rather than divide us," he said in his opening remarks at the all
party meeting convened by him to discuss the situation arising out of
the terror strikes.
Describing the attacks as "different" from the previous terror
strikes, Singh said "in the face of this national threat and in the
aftermath of this national tragedy, all of us from different political
parties must rise above narrow political considerations and stand
united.
"We should work together in the interest of the country at this
critical juncture."
He said the parties should build a consensus on what needs to be done
to strengthen the ability of the system to meet these threats.
"The terrorists and enemies of our nation must know that their
actions unite rather than divide us," the Prime Minister said at the
meeting from which leader of the opposition L K Advani, BJP president
Rajnath Singh and Shiv Sena stayed away.
He hoped that the political parties would be able to give a
collective assurance to the nation that, across the political spectrum,
"we stand together at this hour."
Maintaining that the government shared the hurt of the people and
their sense of anger and outrage, Singh said several measures are
already in place to deal with the situation.
"But clearly much more needs to be done and we are determined to take
all necessary measures to overhaul the system," he said.
"We have finalised a set of legal measures based on the
recommendations of the Administrative Reforms Commission which includes
the setting up of a FIA," Singh said.
The Prime Minister said the government would further strengthen
maritime and air security for which measures have been initiated.
This will involve the Navy, the Coast Guard and the coastal police,
as well as the Air Force and the civil aviation ministry.
"The anti-terrorist forces of the country will be further
strengthened and streamlined. The National Security Guard, which is the
principal anti-terrorist force of the country, will be given additional
facilities and the size of the force is being augmented," he said. TOI |