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Book of Integration Council New - Ministry of Home Affairs

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SHRI NARENDRA MODI<br />

CHIEF MINISTER, GUJARAT<br />

Respected Prime Minister and the Chairman <strong>of</strong> the National <strong>Integration</strong><br />

<strong>Council</strong> Shri Man Mohan Singhji, Honorable Union <strong>Home</strong> Minister Shri Shivraj<br />

Patil, Honorable Union Ministers, Honorable Chief Ministers and Ladies and<br />

gentlemen,<br />

I am happy to attend this meeting <strong>of</strong> the National <strong>Integration</strong> <strong>Council</strong><br />

which is constitued to address issues affecting national solidarity and integration.<br />

This forum provides us an opportunity to deliberate on many important subjects<br />

like regionalism, extremism, regional imbalance, narrow mindedness etc. and<br />

arrive at agreeable solution. I wish the agenda had been circulated well in<br />

advance so as to enable us to make meaningful contribution on these important<br />

issues.<br />

This meeting <strong>of</strong> the National <strong>Integration</strong> <strong>Council</strong> has been convened at a<br />

time when many states were target <strong>of</strong> series <strong>of</strong> bomb blasts and when innocent<br />

citizens were subjected to the ominous designs <strong>of</strong> subversive, anti national<br />

elements hell-bent upon creating terror and chaos in the country. However, I<br />

am shocked to find that the issues <strong>of</strong> terrorism do not find any mention in the<br />

agenda, though it has direct bearing <strong>of</strong> the national integration. The agenda<br />

include more developmental issues which should have been discussed in the<br />

forum <strong>of</strong> the National Development <strong>Council</strong>. Also, I feel that it would have<br />

been appropriate if the action taken report on the earlier <strong>Council</strong> meeting was<br />

included in the agenda.<br />

With these observations, I would like to touch upon the agenda <strong>of</strong> today's<br />

meeting and take liberty to make some suggestions for the consideration <strong>of</strong><br />

this august body and the Union government.<br />

1. Economic Development and Removal <strong>of</strong> Regional Imbalances :<br />

Terrorism, Naxalism, insurgency and illegal migration from Bangladesh are<br />

all detrimental to the nation's development. Equitable and balanced regional<br />

development is <strong>of</strong>ten affected by such menaces as these negative forces spread<br />

terror, spread insecurity and even deprive our poor <strong>of</strong> their livelihood. Naxalism<br />

has affected many parts <strong>of</strong> our country disrupting development and growth<br />

process, while illegal migrants have snatched away the employment and livelihood<br />

opportunities <strong>of</strong> many <strong>of</strong> our poor people. Terrorist have targeted relatively<br />

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