Noting that the constant threat of a low-intensity proxy war and that terrorism has become disturbing features, President A P J Abdul Kalam on Friday sought a redefinition of the Intelligence Bureau's role to make it an effective instrument to prevent subversion.
Delivering the 19th IB Centenary Endowment Lecture in New Delhi, Kalam suggested the synergising of multiple agencies for forecasting and dealing with terrorist activities.
"We need to evolve a National Campaign to Eradicate Terrorism in our nation with a mission oriented integrated management structure and people's participation," Kalam said at the function attended, among others, by Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil and National Security Advisor M K Narayanan.
Peaceful and harmonious conditions in all parts of the country, he said, were essential for people to cooperate with one another for accelerated national growth.
"However, there are challenges to peace from across our geographical borders, from terrorism and violence, and from scarcities created by rapidly depleting natural resources," Kalam said.
The constant threat of low intensity proxy war and terrorism has become a disturbing aspect of national life and constitutes the new face of war, he remarked.
Apparently referring to the spurt in Left-wing extremism, Kalam said the organised formation of extreme ideologists and it spreading to various parts of the country originated from the lack of timely implementation of land reforms and failure to resolve certain ideological differences in time.
He said there was a need for district administrations to exercise greater influence in forests and territories.
In the changing environment, the President said, the Intelligence Bureau should upgrade equipment with state of art technology and improve the service conditions of personnel consistent with their job challenges, expertise and risks.
The agency should also give lifetime commitment and incentives to ensure gap-free collection of intelligence that foresee events and leads to preventive action, he said.
Kalam also advocated the redefining of the role of the IB in the context of technological, social and cultural challenges of the 21st century to make it an effective instrument to prevent subversion and promote peaceful development.
He stressed the importance of the introduction of a national ID card, saying this will be a boon for intelligence agencies because and will help to control the dynamics.
While the nation is growing economically, the great challenge it will face is to ensure that the growth is uniform and across all sections of society, he said.
Kalam also referred to growing cyber crime and said criminals have started using technology as a tool. "Intelligence agencies like IB should equip themselves with all cyber security tools such as Internet monitoring, defensive analysis, sniping and hacking analysis and emergency response methods to take fast real-time action against possible attacks," he said.
Complimenting the IB's sleuths for services rendered to the nation, he said, "In this changed scenario, the role of IB has become even more emphatic and important. Our efforts to grow as an economic superpower are hindered very often by the violence promulgated by some misguided elements."
