SEZ policy being reviewed

Special Correspondent

Manmohan promises improved rehabilitation, resettlement

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"Our record in internal security is enviable"
Clear message to terrorists: talks with only those who want peace
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NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday said the Special
Economic Zone (SEZ) policy was being reviewed to find out whether there
was any pitfall in the existing framework. Recognising the need for a
more humane approach, he assured Parliament that the Government would
come up with an improved rehabilitation and resettlement policy. He was
replying to the debate on the motion of thanks to the President's address.

Schemes for minorities

On the Sachar report, Dr. Singh said it brought out the stark reality of
the condition of Muslims. The new 15-point programme was focussed on
ensuring equitable sharing of the benefits of crucial development
programmes, particularly in health and education. The Government was
also formulating targeted programmes for districts where the minorities
were concentrated. "In the long-run, as all communities catch up on
their social indicators, there would be no need for such programmes but
given the current disparities it is imperative that we carry all
sections along."

Dwelling on internal security, Dr. Singh asserted that his Government
had an enviable track record, better than that of the previous regime,
be it in the northeast, Jammu and Kashmir or naxal-affected districts.
Even when there were terrorist incidents, the country never saw a
breakdown of law and order and an upsurge of communal violence of the
type that rocked Gujarat. "Compare the violence after the Godhra
incident in Gujarat to the situation in Maharashtra after last year's
Mumbai blasts."

Tackling naxalism

Describing naxalism as the "most widespread internal security threat" as
seen in the recent killing of Sunil Mahato, a sitting Lok Sabha member
from Jharkhand, Dr. Singh said the Government was following a
two-pronged approach — supporting States in improving the performance of
the security and police forces and going into the deep-rooted causes
that gave rise to disaffection among tribals and other sections.

In a clear message to terrorist groups, he said the Government could
negotiate only with those who wanted peace, not with those who killed
innocent people. "We will never hesitate to sit down and talk to a
fellow Indian — howsoever misguided — if such conversations can bring
peace to our people. But we will never compromise the unity and
integrity of our country or allow those who kill innocent people to go
unpunished."

Dr. Singh was referring to recent talks with the United Liberation Front
of Asom, which failed to make headway.

On the foreign policy, he said India's relations with Russia, the U.S.,
the European Union, China, Japan and the ASEAN nations had grown and
expanded to cover many new areas.

As for Pakistan, he was confident that all outstanding issues would be
resolved through dialogue.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/09/stories/2007030918921500.htm