Hyderabad, October 26
Describing terrorism as the most dangerous threat and a hydra-headed monster, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has asked police personnel to gear up to meet challenges to internal security.

He was speaking at the passing-out parade of the 58th batch of IPS probationers at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy here today.

Describing terrorism as “the most dangerous threat today”, Dr Singh pointed out that there were several strains of terrorism present and asked the probationers to keep abreast of developments in this regard.

"Today's terrorists are most sophisticated, have transnational linkages and have adequate resources. Both knowledge and determination are required if we are to succeed against these elements," he cautioned.

The public administration in the country should learn to tackle tensions arising out of a rapidly changing society, the Prime Minister said, pointing out that the country was being transformed beyond recognition, giving rise to tensions, which were inevitable in a country trying to modernise itself.

"The public administration in our country must have an in-depth knowledge and awareness of problems faced by the rural population," he said.

Seventy eight IPS probationers, including eight lady officers, in addition to three officer-trainees of the Maldivian Police Service, and four in the Royal Bhutan Police participated at the grand passing-out parade.

Referring to the fall-out of urbanisation, the Prime Minister said large urban agglomerations were throwing up organised crime in a manner not foreseen in the past. To counter white-collar crime which acquired new dimensions, the police force required knowledge of disciplines and new ways of tracking such crime.

"You will have to understand the complexity of forces influencing the march of our polity," he told the new officers.

Underlining the need for sensitive handling of different situations in areas like the North-East, Jammu and Kashmir, or states affected by Naxalite activity, he called upon the probationers to understand the reasons for disaffection and alienation, and possibly you will find answers to your challenges.

Stating that the police force should have a humane attitude not only towards all those who come into contact with them but also with their subordinates, the Prime Minister asked them to "treat the men and women in your force with compassion, dignity and respect".

Director of the academy Kamal Kumar said in his speech that the NPA had introduced several new in-service courses this year, which include a course on 'international cooperation and coordination in criminal investigation and trials and a programme on hostage negotiations.

The Prime Minister's Baton and Home Minister's Revolver for the best all-round probationer was awarded to Nishant Kumar Tiwari, a UP-cadre probationer.

Union Ministers Shivraj Patil and S Jaipal Reddy, National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan and Chief Minster Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy were among those present on the occasion.

Dr Manmohan Singh exuded confidence that the country would achieve 10 per cent economic growth rate in near future.

The optimism stems from the rapid progress that India has been witnessing in the recent times, he said after laying the foundation stone for a four-lane highway at Kothakota in the backward Mahabubnagar district of Andhra Pradesh.

"A growth rate of 8 to 9 per cent was considered far from feasible till a few years ago. But, it is not only possible now but we can hope to grow at 10 per cent," he said.

The consistent and rapid growth over the next two decades would enable the country to remove the scourge of poverty, illiteracy and unemployment, the Prime Minister said, adding that mega infrastructure projects would give fillip to agricultural and industrial growth.

The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for the four-lane road between Kothakota and Kurnool, which is part of the 463-km long Hyderabad-Bangalore highway being taken up under the National Highway Development Project (NHDP).

Addressing a public meeting after the foundation stone-laying ceremony, he called for stepping up private sector participation in development of infrastructure projects.

Apart from mega road projects, the government had also drawn up plans to involve private sector in railway projects, ports and airports across the country in a big way.