Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday claimed that considerable improvement in the national security situation was one of the achievements of Modi government and no big terror attack was reported in India in the last four years.
The Pakistan-backed terror attacks in Gurdaspur and Pathankot air base, both in Punjab, were foiled by our security forces, the Minister told the media here in the presence of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
On the other hand, Maoists too have been reigned in different parts of the country, Rajnath claimed, adding that 126 districts in India were affected by Maoist violence four years ago, which had now come down to 90. Of these also, Maoists are active in 10 to 11 districts only.
Rajnath said that there were 50 to 60 districts where Maoist violence is usually reported and that the government was working towards containing the menace.
He stated that 1,400 new bunkers are being built for safety of people residing in areas close to the Pakistan border. "Those dwelling near the Pakistan border are not ordinary citizens. They are important from strategic viewpoint," said Singh in response to a media query over the impact of firing from across the border on denizens residing in the vicinity.
Speaking on the issue of rehabilitation of displaced Kashmiri Pandits, he said that the Centre is committed over the issue and has made a provision for it in the budget. "The Jammu and Kashmir Government needs to allot land for the purpose following which the exercise would be taken up," he said.
To another query, Singh pointed out that India aspired for a normal relationship with Pakistan but the latter country needs to stop supporting terrorism first. Observing that Pakistan needs to control terrorism on its own soil as well, he said that India was ready to provide necessary support in this regard if needed by its neighbour.
The Minister further said that the Direct Benefit Transfer scheme of the Modi government had immensely benefitted a large section of Indian population and curbed corruption. The country opened a record Jan Dhan accounts of 31.5 crore population, he added.