India fighting terror with new policy, process: Modi

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addressing at the inauguration of the Multi-storeyed flats for Members of Parliament, through video conferencing, in New Delhi on November 23, 2020.

PM for simultaneous polls, one voter list

KEVADIA (Guj), Nov 26: Asserting that India can never forget the wounds of 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said the country is fighting terrorism with a new policy and a new process.
In his valedictory address at the 80th All India Presiding Officers’ Conference, Modi remembered the 26/11 martyrs on the 12th anniversary of the Mumbai terror attack.
“Todays date is associated with the biggest terror attack on the country. On this date in 2008, terrorists sent from Pakistan had attacked Mumbai, Modi said in his address via video-conference.
“Many people died in that terror attack, and people of many nationalities were the victims. I pay my homage to all. I bow down to the security personnel who lost their lives in the attack, Modi said.
“India cannot forget the wounds of the Mumbai terror attack, he said.
“India is now fighting terrorism with a new policy and a new process,” Modi said.
He also lauded India’s security forces fighting terrorism by foiling terror plans.
“I bow down to our security establishment involved in foiling big terror strikes like the 26/11 Mumbai attack. They are giving a befitting reply to terror and are involved in securing our borders, he said.
Twelve years ago, terrorists from Pakistan laid siege to India’s financial capital for three days, killing 166 people including 18 security personnel, and injuring hundreds more.
Nine terrorists were killed by security forces.Ajmal Kasab, the lone terrorist captured alive, was hanged four years later.
Meanwhile, Modi today advocated ‘One Nation, One Election’ system and a single voters’ list, saying that elections taking place every few months hinders development.
Addressing the concluding session of the 80th All India Presiding Officers Conference here via video conference, Modi also paid homage to the victims of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, and asserted that India is fighting terrorism now with new policy and new process.
On November 26, 2008, 10 Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorists from Pakistan killed 166 people, including 18 security personnel, in a 60-hour siege in Mumbai.
Making a strong pitch for simultaneous elections on the Constitution Day, Modi said that ‘One Nation, One Election’ was not “just an issue of deliberation, but also the need of the country”.
“Elections are held at different places every few months and it hampers the developmental work and all of you know it. Therefore, it is must to have deep study and deliberation on ‘One Nation, One Election’,” he said.
He also said that having a single voters’ list was desirable.
“Only one voters’ list should be used for Lok Sabha, Vidhan Sabha and other elections. Why are we wasting time and money on these lists?”, he said.
He also emphasized the need for coordination between three wings of the State — Legislature, Executive and Judiciary — and said everything from these institutes’ roles to their decorum is described in the Constitution.
“In the 1970s, we saw how there was an attempt to breach the dignity of separation of power, but the country got the answer only from the Constitution. After that period of Emergency, the system of checks and balances became stronger and stronger.
“The Legislature, Executive and Judiciary, all three learned a lot from that period and moved forward,” the prime minister said.
National interest should form the basis of every decision, Modi said. “We must remember that when politics take over people and nation-first policies, the nation has to pay adversely in such situations,” he added.
He cited the example of delay in the completion of the Sardar Sarovar Dam, saying it kept lingering and was completed after years.
“This could have happened earlier if development was given precedence. Those who stalled it, have no repentance,” he said in a clear attack on the Congress.
Underlining that there is no place for politics of untouchability, Modi cited the example of the Statue of Unity built by his Government for Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel despite Patel not being from the BJP or the Jana Sangh.
Constitution is our guiding light to take on challenges in the 21st century, Modi said and called for raising awareness about it.
“Our Constitution has many features but one very special feature is the importance given to duties. Mahatma Gandhi was very keen about this. He saw a close link between rights and duties. He felt that once we perform our duties, rights will automatically be safeguarded,” Modi said.
He also referred to the practice of KYC (know your customer) in the corporate world and said there should be a similar KYC drive in the form of Know Your Constitution to popularize the Constitution and its different features.(PTI)