Govt to introduce robust counter-terrorism policy soon: Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Nov 7 said that the union government is soon planning to introduce a robust counter-terrorism policy and strategy to fight national security threats, terrorists, and their ecosystem.

Addressing the anti-terrorism conference in New Delhi, Shah said that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government is committed to creating a strong ecosystem against terrorism and eliminating it.

“We need to work together to fight terrorism, terrorists and their ecosystem. And that's why, we will soon bring a new national counter-terrorism policy and strategy in which you all will play a key role,” Shah said.

He said that while law and order is a state subject and states have the geographical boundaries and constitutional limitations, but terrorism doesn't, and therefore all security agencies – central and states – must work in close coordination, chalk out joint strategies, and share intelligence.

The Centre has come up with a vision of a model anti-terrorism squad (ATS) and model special task force (STF) for all states and Union territories, which will work as a common platform to deal with the menace of terrorism, he said.

Shah said the new policy will help states and central agencies to work in close coordination to deal with terrorism.

He said that the standard operating procedures (SOPs) regarding the ATS and STF model are being shared with the state governments so that they can make the necessary tweaks to their existing models.

"Adopting model ATS and STF doesn't reduce the rights of states," Shah said.

To make India a developed nation by 2047, as envisioned by Modi, everyone has to deal with all security challenges and have a unified terror-fighting ecosystem, he said.

"After Modi became the prime minister in 2014, the country has been moving forward with a solid strategy against terrorism. We are committed to eradicating terrorism," he said.

Now the whole world has accepted Modi's zero-tolerance policy against terrorism, he said, adding that the government is committed to removing the evil of terrorism.