There is a need to promote homeland security in the public-private partnership (PPP) mode and encourage research and innovation to speedily tackle threats posed by terrorism to internal security, Minister of State for Home Affairs, Mr Hansraj Gangaram Ahir said at an ASSOCHAM event held in New Delhi today.
“Though we are employing manual force in the form of huge army but when it comes to equipment, we need the co-operation of industry which needs to focus on carrying out research and innovation to thwart various methodologies used by terrorists,” said Mr Ahir while inaugurating an ASSOCHAM conference on Homeland Security.
“We want to promote industry and the Prime Minister and government’s ambitious ‘Make in India’ project offers you plenty of opportunities in the homeland security sector,” he said.
“We want to put an end to China’s supremacy in the homeland security sector,” added the minister.
On the ongoing unrest in Jammu and Kashmir, he said that the government will take concrete steps in this regard. “Everyone knows that it is the game plan of the neighbouring country and though it is not the right time to attack but India can very well protect itself from terrorist activities.”
He said that over the years, our security forces have shown a lot of restraint. About 4,000 soldiers have got injured due to stone pelting and it is concerning that people are even raising voice against use of pellet guns.
Terming Pakistan as ‘coward and very weak from within,’ the minister said that though Pakistan does not let any opportunity to tease India but it never highlights what action it has taken against the terrorists.
Mr Ahir also said that government will work towards police modernisation.
On Pakistan’s invitation to India to talk on Kashmir, he said “The Prime Minister has made it very clear to Pakistan that from now on there will be no more talks on Kashmir but only on PoK (Pakistan occupied Kashmir) and he will take a decision on the same most effectively.”
Sharing his viewpoint on the same, Mr Ahir said, “Though there has been a tradition of going for talks but Pakistan has not kept its word as such we are yet to take a decision in this regard.”