Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (August 29) met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and made a strong demand for giving assent to a bill to combat terror and organised crime(GUJCOC) in the state. National Security Adviser M K Narayanan was also present in this meeting. Meeting went on for 45 minutes in Prime Minister office.

Modi explained to the Prime Minister that the law similar to the Gujarat Control of Organised Crime Act was already operational in Maharashtra, then why not in Gujarat? Modi harped on the need for “strong laws” to prevent youngsters from falling prey to terrorists who were looking to recruit them for their anti-national activities. Modi said there was a need for border fencing and special training and providing modern equipment to the forces engaged in border security. Modi said he was not interested in playing politics on the issue of terrorism.

“A political will is needed to further strengthen the police force including giving them more legal powers and resources. I requested the Prime Minister to immediately pass Gujarat’s law against organised crime, which has been passed twice by the Assembly, and has been lying with the Centre for the past four years. It is important to understand that this law exists in Maharashtra and if a bomb blast takes place they can use it, but if it happens in Gujarat just 50 km away I don’t have the law. I want to tell those politicians who have their minds filled with vote bank politics that there were terrorist activities even when POTA was in force and that despite having Section 302 (of IPC which gives death penalty for murder) murders do take place. Does this mean we remove this clause? I apprised them about the information revealed by the terrorists arrested for their involvement in the Ahmedabad blasts. There is a need for co-ordination between the Centre and states and also among the states to combat terror. It has come to light that states which are doing well economically are especially being targeted. I requested the Prime Minister to call a meeting of such states and he has agreed to it. I also requested the Prime Minister that since Gujarat is a border and coastal state there is a need to re-look and upgrade its security.I am not here as a BJP leader but as a voice of the Gujarat Assembly which represents 5.5 crore people. We should face terrorism as a united force,” he said, when asked if he felt the BJP-ruled states were being discriminated against by the Centre in the fight against terror. I hope the Prime Minister and the government in Delhi will show political will and take a decision soon” Modi said after his meeting with the Prime Minister.

Some more points that Narendra Modi raised in a meeting with Prime-Minister

-Terrorists target economically progressive states. Meeting of Chief Ministers from such states should be called.
-Prime Minister should take initiative to make sure that central and state intelligence bureaus and security agencies work in coordination to make a strategy to combat terrorism.
-Naxals affected states have a system of police co-ordination among one another. Terrorists affected states too should have such co-ordination mechanism. Prime Minister should take initiative under his leadership to make this sure.
-To make intelligence bureaus of different states more efficient and stronger, Central intelligence bureau should provide enough financial resources to them.
-Special courts and fast track courts should be immediately established to counter terrorism and organized crimes.
-Activities of some political leaders who are motivated by vote bank politics encourage anti-national institutions that want to make our nation weaker. Liberal attitude by Indian government and some states governments towards such anti-national elements adversely affects system’s willingness to fight against terrorism.
-Offending activities and irresponsible statements by some elements adversely affect moral of our investigating agencies and police officers. Such elements in attempt to divert peoples’ attention and investigation process have become tools of terrorists. They are seriously harming our fight against terrorism.
-In the name of human right protection some elements are attempting to misuse our legal system with aim to down the moral of our whole police force.

Gujarat’s security related issues with centre in specific

-GUJCOC bill was passed by the Gujarat Assembly in 2003 and sent to the President for his assent.The assent of the President is still awaited. Similar legislation was already in existence in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra pradesh and Delhi, and the Presidential assent to GUJCOC should be given on the similar line.
-The government of Gujarat, which has the longest coastal line in the country, had sent a comprehensive scheme to the Centre in 2005 on coastal security, which included setting up of 51 coastal police stations in 11 coastal districts of the state. Only ten police stations had so far been sanctioned. Similarly, against the proposal of 70 outposts, only 46 have been sanctioned.
-Against the Rs 392.47 crore perspective plan submitted by the state government only Rs 58.42 crore had been approved.
-In view of the large-scale requirements of border security and also in view of challenges posed by terrorists and infiltrators, both in terms of their reach and skills, it is beyond any state government’s capacity to handle the security issues without proper administrative and financial support by the Central Government.

-The financial and logistic support from the Centre to Gujarat for modernization of its police force had been reduced ”without assigning any understandable reasons.
-The proposals of the state government to introduce camel patrolling system and erect 90 watch towers have also not been approved.

Briefing after meeting with PM(7 minute Video)