New Delhi:India should take all steps to ensure internal and external security and territorial integrity, President Pranab Mukherjee said on Saturday expressing serious concern over repeated ceasefire violations on LoC and recent incursions off the coastal line.
He also said the scourge of Left-Wing extremism should be tackled through twin-pronged strategy of development and deterrence. In his new year message to Governors and Lt Governors through video conferencing, Mukherjee said a major issue in states having international borders was security.
“While India is com-mitted to peace and non-violence, we cannot afford the luxury of being complacent on our borders. Repeated violations of the ceasefire on the Line of Control (LoC) and recent incidents of incursions off our coastal line are a matter of serious concern.
“We should be ready to take all steps necessary to ensure both internal and external security, and protect territorial integrity of our nation,” he said in his message. The President said after three decades, general elections have provided a stable government at the Centre with a clear majority for a single party, with a mandate for good gove-rnance.
“To realise the aspirations of our coun-trymen and guide India’s rightful ascent in the comity of nations, both the Central and the State Governments have to collectively share the responsibility,” he said.
The President reminded the Governors that they draw authority from Consti-tution and are oath-bound to protect, preserve and defend the Constitution and work for the welfare of the people of the state.(PTI)
