Marshal everything for security: PM

New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday took the chief secretaries of states to task by pointing out that responses to internal security threats - from Maoists or terrorists - in the past have been 'inadequate'.

Speaking in the background of the July 11 terror blasts in Mumbai and Srinagar, in which around 200 people were killed and the Maoist attack in Chhattisgarh on Monday in which 25 more were killed, the Prime Minister said, "There can be no development and progress in the absence of law and order and public security."

The Prime Minister suggested the chief secretaries to improve interaction with people. "We cannot allow terrorists to succeed. Naxalism and terrorism are twin threats. Do everything to counter terror threats," Dr Singh said.

He underlined the need to marshal all resources and technologies to improve public security.

Addressing a national conference on effective governance, Dr Manmohan Singh said: "It is the primary responsibility of the state to maintain public order and ensure the safety of its citizens. All other responsibilities come subsequently."

"Business cannot be carried on as usual. We must recognise that past responses are inadequate in dealing with these problems, which are of a different intensity, magnitude, scale and scope," he said.

Manmohan Singh highlighted the threats to internal security from terrorism and Naxalism (Maoists) in many parts of the country.

"I have said in the past that Naxalism is probably the single-biggest challenge we have ever faced to our internal security. The recent incidents of terrorism in Mumbai and Kashmir have brought out the extent of penetration of terrorist elements. We cannot allow them to succeed and get away with their crimes," he said.

While promising to support all necessary efforts, the Prime Minister urged the state governments to utilise all available technologies and trained manpower to meet these challenges.

He asked the chief secretaries of states to show necessary leadership in gearing up the machinery to meet the challenges. The officials were also urged to put in place a framework whereby their subordinates could honestly discharge their functions.

"These threats have to be met firmly, with determination and with a will to destroy them," the Prime Minister said.