Friday, April 15 2005 13:21 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Asserting that the Government will deal firmly with insurgency, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today (Apr 15, 2005) said it is willing to conduct an honest and meaningful dialogue with any group that shuns violence and is ready to engage in talks.

Addressing the Chief Ministers Conference on Internal Security and Law and Order, he said the challenge of terrorism must be faced squarely and resolutely by all shades of political opinion. "There can be no political compromise with terror."

The Prime Minister dwelt on cross border infiltration by extremists in Jammu and Kashmir, insurgency in North East and the threat posed by naxalism in some parts.

Observing that internal security "is our biggest national security challenge", he asked the Chief Ministers to function on a war footing and pay the highest attention in dealing with this.

"Violence and the use of force cannot win the rewards that insurgents and extremists seek. Our Government will deal firmly with insurgency."

"However, we are willing to conduct an honest and meaningful dialogue with any group that abjures the path of violence and is willing to engage in a dialogue," he said.

Singh noted that notwithstanding the recent dastardly attempt to disturb the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service by terrorists, the people of Jammu and Kashmir had come onto the streets as one to welcome this gesture of reconciliation.

Singh hoped the terrorists and extremists in the region "have grasped the mood of the people and will not try to disrupt the bus service again".

The Prime Minister's remarks come in the wake of threats by four militant outfits to attack the second bus service slated for April 21.

"I believe it is the joint responsibility of Governments of India and Pakistan, and of the local authorities on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC), to work together in providing full security cover to the bus service," he said.

The Prime Minister said he firmly believed that those at the helm of affairs should take "critical decisions" to create congenial atmosphere and work together to reshape the destiny and international environment for India's development that has never been as favourable as it is now.

Citing challenges to internal security like extremism, insurgency, terrorism, violence and atrocities against women, SC and ST, he asked the Chief Ministers to recognise these facets and develop policies designed to address them.

Emphasising that security forces were duty bound to deal with crime and law and order problems within the framework of clearly spelt out laws, he said insurgency and extremism on the other hand, had a "political dimensions that often requires political management of a security situation".

Observing that crimes against weaker sections of society still persisted, Singh said this calls for a serious introspection and a comprehensive review of strategies adopted so far. Both the Centre and State Governments need to collaborate in this.