PM urges states to give importance to national security

16 July, New Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged all the states to keep politics aside and give importance to national security.

He said, State governments cannot ignore what is happening across the world on Saturday. His remarks came in the backdrop of recent terror attacks in France, Bangladesh and Turkey.

Speaking at the concluding session of Inter State Council Meeting in New Delhi Saturday evening, Modi, stressed on maintaining a visible presence of police forces and underscored the importance of a good CCTV network in curbing crime.

The Prime Minister said that privately installed CCTVs are also extremely useful in this regard.

During the meeting. the Prime Minister expressed happiness at the near-total acceptance of Aadhaar as a tool to promote good governance and transparency.

He said it has led to significant savings of the exchequer and asked senior officials to collect data from States on the extent of savings achieved.

He added that all post offices have now been recognized as payment banks and this will be of great help in implementing Direct Benefit Transfer scheme.

On education, Modi said expansion of education is not enough and the focus should be on quality. He said, lack of quality in education can be bridged through technology.

Speaking on the Punchhi Commission’s recommendations, the Prime Minister said that the deliberations on Saturday marked a good beginning.

He said that discussions on the subject will continue, and as consensus evolves on the recommendations, the process of implementation will follow thereafter.

The commission was set up to look into the new issues of Centre-State relations keeping in view the changes that have taken place in the polity and economy.

Modi thanked all the Chief Ministers and Lieutenant Governors for their suggestions and views expressed on various agenda items discussed in the Meeting.