Book of Integration Council New - Ministry of Home Affairs

Home Minister : Now I request Mr Durai Murugan to speak.
Shri Durai Murugan
Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, respected Madam Sonia ji, Hon’ble Union Home
Minister, Distinguished Members of National Integration Council,
Sir, Tamil Nadu is always keen in maintaining communal harmony in the state by taking
pro-active measures in fulfilling the demands of Minorities and downtrodden. The
State Government is taking steps to start industrial parks, special economic zones in
different regions of the State to create employment opportunities. Besides this, by
implementing special schemes, such as supply of Rice at rupees one per kilo, provision
of grocery items at subsidized price through fair price shops, distribution of free
television sets and gas stoves to the poor family card holders, Implementation of
Anna Village Renaissance Schemes, sanctioning loans to self-help groups and by the
introduction of exclusive schemes to uplift the minorities and downtrodden. The State
Government is ensuring equitable development of all classes of the people. The activities
of fundamental and fascist organizations are being monitored closely by activating State
police and the Intelligence machinery and action including detention under the National
Security Act, is being taken whenever necessary, to maintain communal harmony in the
State. Peace committees have been formed in the sensitive areas in all districts and the
services of these committees are being utilized to defuse any friction between people
belonging to different religions and castes. An Amendment has been made to the
Preventive Detention Act in the State, enabling detention of persons who desecreate or
denigrate the status of caste leaders and thereby incite caste conflicts. Extensive
steps have been taken along the coastline of more than 1000 kilometers to prevent
intrusion, smuggling by nefarious elements and also deny Tamil Nadu coast being
used as a base for carrying out their activities. A chain of check posts have been
created along the coastline, by diverting one battalion of armed police to take care of
the coast line. Our request for reimbursement of these expenditures which otherwise
should have been incurred by the Central Governement, which is incharge of protecting
the international border, has not been adequately responded to by the authorities
concerned. This assistance is crucial to the State Government for it is the safeguarding
the national interest and is defending the international border line. So, our national
endeavour is with an amalgamation of different races, religions, cultures and languages.
This diversity is our strength and not a weakness. We need to support the quest
of the various demographic groups to flourish and prosper. At this crucial hour I
assure our support and commitment to create a collective resolve to face and
overcome any threat to our national integrity.
Thank you.
70