Share intelligence, keep nation alert: PM Modi

Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar (from left), Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, Goa CM Laxmikant Parsekar and Uttarakhand CM Harish Rawat with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the 11th Inter-State Council Meeting at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday asked the states to focus on intelligence sharing to help the country stay “alert” and “updated” in countering internal security challenges.

While addressing the inter-state council meeting, convened after 10 years, the Prime Minister told the chief ministers, “We should focus on how we can make our country prepared to counter challenges to our internal security.” He said internal security cannot be strengthened until and unless the states and the Centre focus on sharing intelligence. “We have to remain alert and updated always,” he said. All the chief ministers, lieutenant governors of Union Territories and 17 Union ministers are members of the council.

Mr Modi said the meeting would deliberate on internal security challenges and its counter strategies, along with helping the states and the Centre know how they can cooperate. “With close cooperation, we will not only strengthen the Centre-State relations but make a better future for the citizens,” he said. Chief minister of Uttar Pradesh Akhilesh Yadav and Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah did not participate in the meeting. Mehbooba Mufti, who is the chief minister of conflict-stricken Jammu and Kashmir, did not participate in the meeting too.

“It would be difficult for any government to successfully implement a scheme on its own. Therefore, provision of adequate financial resources is as important as the responsibility for implementation,” he said. The PM said there are only a few occasions when the leadership of the Centre and the states assemble together. “This forum of cooperative federalism is the perfect setting to deliberate on the interests of the people, address their problems, and take collective and concrete decisions. It highlights the vision of the makers of our Constitution,” he said.

Further, Mr Modi appreciated the efforts of Union home minister Rajnath Singh for restarting this dialogue between the states and the Centre over the last one year, saying increased dialogue and connect has culminated in this gathering today. While speaking on the occasion, Mr Singh batted for close cooperation between the states and the Centre, saying without it, development projects are bound to suffer. Addressing the meeting, Singh said the NDA government’s main focus was to promote federalism—be it cooperative federalism or cooperative federalism through competitive federalism. “We want that the Centre and states, through close and active cooperation and collaboration, formulate development- related policies and implement them. It is quite natural to have an adverse impact on execution of development projects if there are differences of opinion between the states as well as between the state and the Centre,” he said in the meeting. Singh said the creation of NITI Aayog, after disbanding Planning Commission, was part of the strengthening process of cooperative federalism. Now every state can formulate and implement schemes as per their respective needs, said the Home Minister.