New Delhi:
Addressing the 15th National Integration Council (NIC) meeting in Delhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today stressed on the need to strengthen the country's intelligence gathering apparatus.
"The terrorist attack in Delhi last Wednesday is a stark reminder to us that there can be no let up in our vigilance. We must strengthen our investigative agencies and upgrade our intelligence gathering apparatus," Dr Singh said.
(Read the full text of PM's speech)The Prime Minister added that everyone must unequivocally send out a message that pursuit of violence cannot be justified under any circumstances and reaffirm the collective resolve to fight the menace of terrorism in all its forms with available means.
The PM's remarks come three days after the blast outside the Delhi High Court in which 13 people were killed. So far, there has been no breakthrough in the probe - four emails claiming the responsibility for the blast have been received, but there are no clear leads.
According to an official spokesman, the agenda for today's NIC meeting included "measures to curb communalism and communal violence and approach to the Communal Violence Bill".
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh chaired the meeting. The meeting also discussed measures to promote communal harmony, eliminate discrimination especially against minorities and scheduled tribes, ways in which the state and police should handle civil disturbances and "how to curb radicalization of youth in the name of religion and caste".
The last meeting of the NIC was held here Oct 13, 2008.
The NIC is headed by the Prime Minister and includes union ministers, leaders of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and in the Rajya Sabha, Chief Ministers of all the states and union territories which have legislatures, leaders of national political parties and regional political parties, chairpersons of national commissions, eminent public figures and representatives from media.
(With agency inputs)