Tuesday, March 15 2005 15:05 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Ghaziabad (UP): Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today (Mar 15, 2005) said that an atmosphere of security was immensely important for the country's economic progress.

"For any nation's development and progress, security has a special role and for good economic development, an environment of security is immensely important," he said addressing the officers and jawans of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) on the occasion of the Force's 36th Raising Day.

Hailing the security forces, he said that protection of industries would ensure that all take benefit of the development.

Referring to the 1999 hijacking of an Indian Airlines plane, which was on its way to Delhi from Kathmandu, Singh said that because of it the nation faced a "big challenge of not allowing repetition of such incidents".

In view of this challenge, security of airports was handed over to CISF with "much expectations", he said and expressed satisfaction that it had appropriately met these.

The Prime Minister witnessed an impressive parade and took salute. Earlier, CISF director general K M Singh said that the force should be re christened, as Central Security Force (CSF), as its role was no longer confined to protecting industrial units.

He said that the force was performing the role of diverse nature including providing security to vital installations and national monuments and was soon to be entrusted the responsibility of VIP security.

Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil and Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Prithviraj Singh Chauhan were among those who witnessed the parade.