Union minister of state for Home Kiren Rijiju today visited disaster-hit areas of Joshiara, Tiloth and Gangori in Uttarkashi district to take stock of the flood safety measures taken there in the wake of the 2013 flash floods.
On the poor condition of Gangotri national highway, the Union Minister admitted the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has slackened a bit over the past two years.
But the NHIDC (National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation) has now been entrusted with the task of improving national highways and "we can hope their condition will improve," Rijiju said.
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The Union Minister also interacted with families affected by the 2013 deluge to know about their problems and assured they will soon be sorted out by the Centre.
He said he did not find it difficult to understand the problems of hill people as he himself hailed from the hill state of Arunachal Pradesh.
On the state government's objection to a vast area in the district being declared eco-sensitive zone, Rijiju said it should spell out its objections before the Centre which will then try to find a solution.
Rijiju said the will and the mandate of international
community against proscribed and wanted terrorists and their organisations must be respected and implemented.
"If the world community is to rid itself of terrorism, we will have to rid ourselves of the notion of making distinctions between 'good' and 'bad' terrorists," he said.
The minister said India, which has been a victim of cross-border terrorism for decades, is not immune to threats of radicalisation and terrorist violence which is now affecting more and more countries all over the world.
"Nevertheless, we remain highly concerned and closely monitor and guard against the activities of terrorist entities in various parts of the world from influencing the younger sections of the Indian population with extremist online propaganda and material.
"The risks posed by foreign terrorist fighters trying to enter the country from across the border and by other means are also similarly constantly assessed and monitored," he said.
Rijiju said countering terrorism also requires a strong collective action by the global community. India is regularly engaging with various countries bilaterally for exchanging perspectives on developments pertaining to the menace of terrorism and deepening cooperation for exploring possibilities and modalities of addressing security threats emanating from it.
"In order to address the menace of terrorism, a strong international legal framework is the need of the hour. In this context, nations must urgently consider expediting finalisation of a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism under the UN umbrella mooted by India as early as 1996," he said.
