New Delhi, Apr 2 : Promising that it will keep a vigilant eye on the security situation in the country,
the Congress on Tuesday said, if voted to power, it will establish the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC) within three months and make NATGRID operational by December 2019.
”Congress had also proposed to establish the NCTC and NATGRID. The BJP government dismantled the preparatory work and wasted five years. NCTC was put in the cold storage and NATGRID is yet to be made operational. Congress promises that NCTC will be set up within three months and NATGRID will be made operational by December 2019,” the party said in its manifesto for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Terming terrorism, infiltration of militants, Maoism or Naxalism and caste or communal violence as the most serious threats to internal security, the Congress said it believes that each of these four threats deserves a separate and distinct response.
”We promise an uncompromising approach and hard measures to put an end to terrorism and to the infiltration of militants. In the case of Maoism, the Congress will resolutely fight violent activities. At the same time,
Congress will address developmental challenges in the areas concerned, enlist the support of the people and win over the Maoist cadres,” the document said.
In the case of caste or communal violence, Congress will put down such violence with a firm hand using the police forces at its command, apprehend the instigators and bring them to justice. There will be no room for self-appointed vigilante groups and moral policing brigades.
”Congress will work with State Governments to increase the strength of State police forces, fill all vacancies, equip and train them, and deploy them impartially to maintain law and order and to detect and punish violators and instigators,” the manifesto promised.
The main opposition party further promised to take strong action with respect to crimes against women, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and minorities. The law will be applied on the perpetrators without fear
or favour. They will not be allowed to walk on the streets with a sense of impunity.
”Congress will hold the District Administration responsible for riots, caste or communal violence,
large scale crimes against women, and for the widespread breakdown of law and order,” the manifesto said.
