Terrorism, extremism and Maoism are the present day challenge of our country and a nation cannot achieve development until the hindering forces are suppressed. The Centre has achieved success in containing extremism, terrorism and Maoist activities in the country to a large extent.
This was stated by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh while he was laying the foundation stone of lucknow branch office of National Investigation Agency (NIA) in Gomti Nagar Extension on Monday.
Praising NIA for the achievements it bagged to its credit, Singh said we will get more success if the sustained efforts to counter the menace were continued at the same pace.
“NIA investigates complicated criminal cases, cases which involved extremists, terrorists and Maoists having involvement at global level and so the role of NIA is more a tough task and challenging,’ the minister said.
Stressing on the need of equipping the NIA with the modern gadgets, Singh said NIA needed these facilities to work on the cases related to security issues in the light of challenges of terrorism, extremism and Maoist activities which were the biggest challenges faced by the country at present.
“Investigations and inquiries cannot be performed up to the mark and to the level of satisfaction using old methods. Criminals of present day are equipped with modern techniques and also knew the use of the modern gadgets proficiently, so the investigating agencies also have to adopt new techniques,” Singh said.
“The professional approach and dedication of the NIA in handling the case which it was assigned in the past had brought laurels for the agency and not only the people of the country but also of agencies of entire world now treat it as the best agency working in professional, unbiased and trustworthy manner,” he said.
Referring to ISIS emerging as a new and serious danger before the world, Singh said the number of its activists in India is almost cipher. He said that Indian Muslim families stop their children to adopt this path.
Singh said there may be the fear of ISIS spreading its tentacles anywhere else in the world. “I have undying confidence that because of the majority of people in the country who had a deep faith in Indian values, ISIS can never have its influence in our country,’ he said.
He cited the example saying Imams in thousands took out procession against ISIS and this is an example of Indian culture in which people of all sections have total faith in the family and life values. “Our life values have always encouraged the tolerance instead of discrimination on the lines of caste, religion and when the Persians were extricated from their country, they were given respect here and this is because of country’s values, education and culture,” Singh said.
“India is the only country in the world where all the 72 sects of Muslims live peacefully,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion, DG NIA Sharad Kumar said NIA has made its mark within a short time. “Altogether 112 cases were handed over to the NIA in which the agency succeeded in getting conviction in 92 per cent cases and this shows the competence of the agency,” Kumar said.
The building whose foundation was laid by Singh will include the office complex spread over 2,720 square meter and residential complex over an area of 6,065 square meters. The MHA has sanctioned Rs 32.66 crore for this project scheduled to be completed within 18 months. The project has been assigned to State-owned National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC) ltd. The branch office of NIA here investigates terrorism-related cases and Naxal attacks in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. The mission of NIA is in-depth professional investigation and effective and speedy trial of such cases.