By IANS,
New Delhi : As the 26/11 attack anniversary draws closer, a business forum Monday noted that terrorism has the capability to “create unforeseen global crisis” and suggested that the corporate sector could invest a “near foolproof security programme”.
The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), one of the largest business lobbies in the country, Monday released its “Task Force Report on National Security and Terrorism” – a 118-page document on India’s preparedness or the lack of it to fight terror attacks.
A copy of the report was given to Home Minister P. Chidambaram and the government has been urged to consider recommendations on how to deal with the “biggest external threat from cross border, jehadi terrorism, supported by the ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence) and Pakistan based fundamentalist” groups.
The report underlines that India was facing its “biggest internal security threat from Maoist insurgency and the lack of a robust mechanism to deal with” it.
“Terrorism has the capability to cripple economies, stunt welfare and create unforeseen global crises even dragging countries into war,” says the report.
As India is reclaiming “its rightful place among the world’s biggest and most influential economies, it is constantly being challenged by unexpected and unprecedented means of terrorism.
“26/11 was an unprecedented attack on our nation. It reinforced the often forgotten fact that we have a war being waged against us. (It) was an attack on the economic centres,” FICCI chairman and MP Rajeev Chandrashekhar told reporters while releasing the report.
“The objective of this report is to help the government enhance and augment the nation’s internal security and projects a broad vision and recommendations on counter-terrorism measures for the central government’s consideration,” Chandrashekhar said.
The corporate sector, he said, “has long been silent spectators in the debates on issues like national security”.
“It is critical that the civil society, corporate sector and media remain engaged and aware of this threat on a long term basis. This will be our way of paying remembrance to the events of nearly one year ago and all the terror victims of that day, before and after,” Chandrashekhar added.
Underling the corporate responsibility to fight the threat, the report says that the business community can make assessment of risk potential “in as much detail as possible”.
“The corporate sector can invest in a near foolproof security programme. It can make security audit a constant and regular feature and should be given the same importance as a financial or a management audit,” the report maintains.
After all, its says, the “security is a business for all.”
Some of the key recommendations for the government include:
– Creation of a national counter terrorism agency
– Creation of national intelligence grid
– Separate ministry for internal security with a cabinet minister
– Strengthening of Intelligence Bureau (IB) for collection of intelligence, its analysis and dissemination.
– More stress on human intelligence rather than relying on technical intelligence
– Developing a specialised cadre for National Security Management
– Revamping of coastal security apparatus.