Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasised that the new criminal laws were framed with the spirit of ‘Citizen First, Dignity First and Justice First’, and instead of working with danda; the police now need to work with data.
On the concluding day of the 58th All-India Conference of Director Generals and Inspector Generals of Police, held at Rajasthan International Centre, Jaipur, on January 6-7, the Prime Minister said the enactment of the new laws was a paradigm shift in the criminal justice system PM Modi exhorted the police chiefs to think imaginatively to convey the emotional spirit behind the newly enacted laws to the different sections of society.
Women safety focus
Laying special focus on sensitising women and girls about their rights and protection provided to them under the new criminal laws, he exhorted the police to focus on women safety by ensuring that women could work fearlessly kabhi bhi aur kahin bhi (anywhere and anytime). Prime Minister Modi underscored the need to reinforce the positive image of the police among the citizens of the country.
He advised the use of social media at the level of police stations for disseminating positive information and messages for the benefit of citizens. He also suggested using social media for disseminating advance information on natural calamities and disaster relief.
As a means towards strengthening citizen-police connect, the Prime Minister advised organising various sports events. Urging government officials to stay in border villages, he opined that this exercise will help to establish better connect with local populace as these border villages were the “first villages” of India.
India a major power
Highlighting the success of India’s first solar mission, Aditya-L1, and the swift rescue of 21 crew members from the hijacked vessel in Arabian sea by the Indian Navy, he said that such achievements show that India is emerging as a major power in the world.
On January 6, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) reached another space milestone by placing the Aditya-L1, in orbit at a location where the gravitational forces of the sun and the earth are in balance, thus allowing the spacecraft to remain stable.
The Prime Minister said that the success of Aditya-L1 is similar to that of the Chandrayaan-3 mission.
In a separate incident, a Liberianflagged bulk carrier with around 15 Indian crew members, was hijacked by around five-six armed hijackers in the Arabian Sea. The Indian Navy Marine Commandos launched a security operation on January 5 and rescued all the crew members.
Successful naval operation
Five to six armed pirates had attempted to hijack the MV Lila Norfolk bulk carrier with 21 crew members – including 15 Indians – in the North Arabian Sea. The pirates fled as the elite marine commandos arrived at the scene on a rescue mission.
Prime Minister Modi exuded pride in the Indian Navy’s successful operation. He added that in line with the improving global profile and increasing national strength of the country, the Indian police should transform itself into a modern and world-class police force to realise the vision of a developed India by 2047.
The conference in Jaipur was attended by over 500 police officers of various ranks from different places across the country. Also present on the occasion were Union Home Minister Amit Shah, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Union Ministers of State for Home Nityanand Rai, Ajay Kumar Mishra, and Nisith Pramanik; and Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla.
It deliberated on critical components of national security, including the newly enacted criminal laws, counter-terrorism strategies, Left-wing extremism, emerging cyber threats and worldwide counter-radicalisation initiatives.
