Asserting that there has been improvement in the area of national security, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Thursday said there has been a reduction in terrorist and Naxal violence.
Delivering his 10th Independence Day speech from the ramparts of the historic 17th-century built Red Fort; Dr. Singh said the last nine years have been good for communal harmony.
"Despite some worrisome communal incidents in 2012 and this year, the last 9 years have been good for communal harmony. There has been a reduction in terrorist and Naxal violence also," he said.
Dr. Singh, however, said the area of national security calls for constant vigil.
"We have not been successful in preventing Naxal attacks that happen from time to time. The Naxal violence in Chhatisgarh on 25 May was a frontal attack on our democracy," said Dr. Singh.
"Recently, there was a dastardly attack on our Jawans on the Line of Control with Pakistan. We will take all possible steps to prevent such incidents in the future," he added.
Earlier on August 6, five Indian soldiers were killed by Pakistani Specialist Forces on August 6 along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch District.