Terrorism will not destabilise India

Jan 09, 2009 News

– PM Manmohan Singh

By Fareeza Haniff in Chennai, India

Despite the terrorist threats to disrupt the opening session of the Seventh Parvasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) being held in Chennai, India, the conference for overseas Indians had a terrorist-free opening session with an address by the Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh.

A section of the gathering at Wednesday’s opening session

At the Chennai Trade Centre where the conference is being held, security was the tightest possible that the country has ever had as there were delegates from over 50 countries around the world attending the event.
The Indian Prime Minister told the huge gathering that the recent attacks in Mumbai were a grim reminder of the grave threat posed by extremism and terrorism to India’s pluralistic and liberal traditions.
According to Dr. Singh, there are many who would not like to see India succeed, but the country has shown over and over again that it would not allow the forces of terrorism to destabilise the country.
“We have taken several measures to strengthen national security, and we will continue to work with the International Community to ensure that there are no safe havens and launching pads for terrorists,” he said.
Prior to the opening of the conference, a letter was sent to the Air India Office on January 5, threatening to disrupt the event by placing ten suicide bombers at the Trade Centre. The letter warned that ten car bombs had been sneaked into Chennai and that on the day of the conference, suicide bombers would strike.
The letter stated that the bombers would lie in wait near the conference venue armed with AK–300 type weapons. The letter was addressed to the Air India Building and copies were sent to various security agencies in the country.
Prime Minister Singh said that despite the global economic downturn, the fundamentals of India’s economy continue to remain strong, as the country expects to achieve a growth rate of approximately seven percent this year. He explained that this will be among the highest in the world.
“Much of India’s growth is internally driven and I expect we can maintain a strong pace of growth in the coming years. India is actively involved in the meetings of the G – 20 countries, which we are deliberating on the creation of a new global financial architecture,” the Prime Minister said.
He said that the country needs to ensure that any new architecture that emerges is suited to the new challenges and vulnerabilities facing the world economy.
A new initiative called “The Global Indian Knowledge Network” was also launched at the conference. This network will connect people of Indian origin from a variety of disciplines to users at the national, state and local levels in India.
It is the country’s hope that the network will facilitate transfer of knowledge and serve as a ‘virtual think tank’ to generate ideas on issues such as development, education and health care.
It was also noted that several measures have been put in place for better protection and welfare of workers in India, as the country now enters into inter – governmental agreements.
According to the Prime Minister, India has launched a comprehensive e-governance project on migration. Under this project, each worker will be issued with a ‘Smart Card’ which will contain all details of the worker, including his work contract, his employer and insurance, etc.
This data will also be available to the Government of India as well as the country’s missions overseas.
“The objective of this project will be to transform emigration process to a simple, transparent, orderly and humane process,” Dr. Singh said.
Also addressing the gathering was the Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs, Shri Vayalar Ravi who noted that overseas Indians are estimated to be over 25 million in 110 countries across the world.
This Ministry is responsible for assisting overseas Indians who have reached out for help. “As Minister, I consider it a privilege that I often receive calls directly from Overseas Indian workers, nurses and others in distress, seeking my intervention. It tells me, if nothing else, that my Ministry and me are accessible to overseas Indians at all times.”
The PBD was organized by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs in partnership with the Government of Tamil Nadu.
PBD Conventions provide a platform for exchange of views and networking to the Persons of Indian Origin on matters of common interest.
These Conventions assist the Government of India to better understand the expectations of the Overseas Indians from the land of their ancestors and to acknowledge their role in India’s all-round development and its efforts to acquire its rightful place in the comity of nations.