On the 21st of April, the Indian National Congress (INC) released a National Security Plan, India’s National Security Strategy, aimed at improving the security in India.
Based on a report given by former Northern Army Commander Lieutenant General (retired) D.S. Hooda, the 41 page document outlined what the INC will do to improve the security of the Country.
“This is the broad outline of the Congress’s approach to the issue of national security and what we will do when we are in government. We have taken several features of Gen Hooda’s plan and we have also added one or two aspects which are included in our manifesto. All of this has to be read together to get an idea of the Congress’s approach regarding national security,” senior party leader P. Chidambaram said while releasing the document with Lt Gen Hooda.
While presenting the report, Lt Gen Hooda said, the security plan is going to focus on the five major areas of concern in India. The five areas are “assuming rightful place of India in matters of global importance, securing the neighbourhood, internal security, keeping Indians safe and strengthening the Nation’s capabilities.”
Among other things, the INC said, it is open to revising the plan after receiving inputs from the National Security Advisory Board, National Security Council and the Cabinet Committee on Security.
The chief points outlined by this plan include adopting the principle of ‘one border, one force,’ installing a ‘smart fence’ on the Myanmar border, operationalizing a ‘Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System’ across all Indian borders, speeding up infrastructure development across the border and setting up a ‘National Maritime Authority’ to remove jurisdiction issues in coastal security.
The plan further said, a statutory basis will be provided to the National Security Council (NSC) and the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA.) Lastly, the INC said it will have a zero tolerance to terrorism policy in place.
Speaking about the Plan, the INC said it will immediately appoint a Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) as the principal advisor to the Government pertaining to all matters related to defence. With improving defence and keeping a strong eye on the reducing cyber and political threats, the National Security Plan is a comprehensive document about improving the security in India.
The release of the Plan took place 2 days before the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections takes place on the 23rd of April.
The INC and the BJP are the major parties contesting the Lok Sabha elections.
The results of the Lok Sabha elections will be declared on the 23rd of May.
Stay tuned for more updates.
