Terrorist outfits are aiming to attack India to weaken its economy, Rajnath Singh says

VELLORE: Stating that terrorist organisations are looking for opportunities to attack India to weaken its fastest growing economy, Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Monday asked the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) to safeguard the country's strategic installations from militant attacks.

Speaking at the passing out parade at the Regional Training Centre of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) at Thakkolam near Arakkonam in Tamil Nadu, the minister said the country was emerging as the fastest growing economy and it was among the top 10 economies. He said the country's economy would touch $5 trillion and would be among the top three economies by 2030. At present, the country's economy is $2 trillion, he said.

"However, there are anti-India forces that did not like this. They want to weaken the country's economic growth by attacking the strategic installations. Today, the terrorist organisations are looking for an opportunity to strike India," he said and asked the CISF to hold regular security audits to ensure that there were no terror attacks on the strategic installations.

"Terrorism is a global issue today, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi has succeeded in bringing various countries on board in this issue," he said.

Citing 9/11 in the US and 27/11 in Mumbai, he said the impacts of terrorist attacks could be felt for a long time.

Today, a new pattern is coming, and that is cyber terrorism. Hence, the CISF should develop a cyber-wing akin to the CRPF's Rapid Action Force and Riot Control Force to counter it, he said and added that the government had also communicated to all the other forces, including police in different states, to develop cyber wings.

The CISF role is to guard strategic installations, nuclear sites, government buildings, VIP security cover, Delhi metro rail and airports. "If it is needed, the CISF can also send to the areas infested with left extremists," he said.

Applauding the efforts of the CISF's RTC, the home minister said, "I have heard that the CISF has declared the year as the year of training. I have also come to know that despite infrastructure issues, the RTC has trained many. The strength has gone up to 1.80 lakh from one lakh."

He promised to address the infrastructure issue and said the government had developed a mobile application to redress the grievances of the personnel.

He said the government had fixed Rs 10,000 per annum as uniform allowance to personnel, other than the ranks of officers.

He greeted the CISF for being in the forefront in implementing 33% reservation for women.

Director General of the CISF O P Singh also spoke on the occasion.

As many as 25 assistant commandants/probationers of 31st batch, 310 sub-inspectors/executive trainees of 43rd batch and 708 assistant sub-inspectors of eighth batch passed out on the occasion. They would be deployed at airports and other important installations in different parts of the country.