| Speech
of the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, at the Foundation Stone Laying
Ceremony of the CBI HQ Building, New Delhi on 18.1.2006 |
“It gives me immense pleasure to be with you on this auspicious occasion
of the foundation stone laying ceremony of the new CBI Head Office in
Delhi. This has been a long-standing need of CBI and I am happy that today
we are taking a step forward to provide the CBI its own home.
I attach great importance to the work entrusted to the CBI. I am happy to
say that over the years, CBI, with its efficiency and impartiality has
earned a name for itself. It is a tribute to the good work done by all of
you that the executive, the legislature, the judiciary and the people of
our country at large, repose high faith and trust in your professionalism,
in your capability and in your effectiveness. I congratulate you for
having contributed to the growth of CBI as the premier investigating
agency of our country.
I greatly value the professional autonomy and integrity of your
organisation. It is my solemn commitment to our people that our Government
will never interfere in your professional work, as indeed it has not since
we assumed office.
From the perspective of investigative and law enforcement agencies, the
fast changing national and international political, socio-economic and
technological scenario warrants profound, far-reaching and continuous
changes in investigating procedures, practices and institutional
re-engineering. New organizational structures, redefining of priorities,
adoption of new technologies, mobilisation of adequate resources and
enabling legislations are all required to combat the challenges that our
country faces.
Due to its organisational structure, vast experience and an immensely
talented pool of trained and committed personnel, the CBI is today
uniquely placed to seize the initiative and consolidate its status as the
country’s apex agency excelling in investigative methods &
technologies, an intelligence storehouse and a centre of research &
development. If the CBI has to so consolidate its position, it has to
further transform itself and the initiative for such a transformation has
also to come from within the organisation. CBI should thus have a
forward-looking vision of transforming itself into a world-class
specialised agency.
I expect you to set a goal of leadership for yourself in the 21st century
with a time bound strategic plan expressly articulating redefined
institutional priorities, goals and objectives consistent with your
organisational vision and mission. I also expect your organisation to be
geared towards the goal of promoting good governance. This calls for hard
work, total transparency and objectivity in your functioning.
The CBI has come under repeated public scrutiny, and will continue to do
so. There is some concern that your record in securing prosecution and
conviction of offenders has been somewhat weak. You will also have to
address issues of image, morale and brand building. I am sure you have
leadership, which is capable of meeting these challenges.
Permit me to share with you my thoughts on some key issues that our law
enforcement agencies must focus on in years to come.
Terrorism is the biggest national security threat our country faces today.
Combating this threat presents unique and unprecedented challenges. The
tactics adopted by terrorists in planning, sponsoring and executing their
crimes, often with the assistance of state-sponsors, require constant
study and analysis. The convergence of terror dealers and conventional
criminals, presents obvious and acute dangers to our polity.
Therefore, our counter-terrorism culture and organization have to shift
from a reactive to a more proactive mode. We have to develop a nationally
driven, fully integrated Intelligence and Investigative Programme. This
should involve institutional mechanisms for improved information sharing
between various central agencies, state governments and international
counter-terrorism partners. We should enhance our capability to be
pro-active by generating and analysing intelligence, and by creating an
environment that is inhospitable for terrorists. We must deny terrorists
and their supporters the capacity to plan, organize, and carry out
logistical, operational, and support activities.
This requires developing training programmes and proficiency standards
that enhance investigative capability of counter-terrorism personnel. This
cannot be over-emphasised. The law enforcement machinery of the country,
particularly the CBI, must pursue terrorism investigations and
intelligence operations through well-trained investigators using the best
available tools, including state-of-the-art forensics.
New technologies and globalisation pose new challenges for crime detection
and crime prevention. While these new technologies do enhance our
capability to deal with crime, they also offer terrorists, drug
traffickers, crime syndicates easier and cheaper access to means to
perpetuate their crimes. Technological advances also provide criminals
with the potential to stay ahead of law enforcement counter-measures.
Our country’s vulnerability to cyber crime is escalating as our economy
and critical infrastructure become increasingly reliant on interdependent
computer networks and the Internet. Large-scale computer attacks on our
critical infrastructure and economy can have potentially devastating
results.
The ever-changing techniques used by terrorists, criminals and other
anti-national elements require CBI and other law enforcement investigators
and professionals to possess highly specialized technological &
computer-based skills. Besides ongoing programmes aiming at up-gradation
of skills and technology, external expertise and talents should be
actively scouted for and fostered. The CBI could take a lead in
establishing and implementing new technical capabilities, databases,
protocols, policies, procedures, standards, and guidelines and also
support law enforcement operations of other agencies in the country by way
of enhancement of their scientific and forensic response capabilities.
Let me now turn my gaze inward and consider how CBI and other law
enforcing agencies should deal with corruption in public life. Corruption
is not only a social cancer eating into the vitals of our institutions of
governance and our society, but is also a threat to our well-being and
national security. It is unfortunate that it seems as if many of us have
become far too tolerant towards corruption in public life.
A multi-pronged intervention is needed from policy makers, law enforcement
agencies and all right thinking people to stem the rot. A comprehensive
approach involving political, electoral, judicial, and police reforms
coupled with decentralization and accountability must be the essence of an
all out assault on this deep-seated malady.
I sincerely urge all our political parties and patriotic citizens to adopt
a policy of Zero Tolerance towards corruption. The National Common Minimum
Programme makes a solemn pledge to the people of our country to provide a
government that is corruption-free, transparent and accountable at all
times, and to provide an administration that is responsible and
responsive. And this we have endeavoured to provide.
The CBI should deter by aggressively pursuing all cases against corrupt
elements without fear or favour. People, processes, practices and
institutions showing particular susceptibility and propensity for
corruption should be spotted, isolated and methodically acted against to
root out this malady. Our government will appreciate if based on its
experience and analysis, the CBI could suggest useful improvements in
systems, procedures, rules and regulations of the concerned arms of
governance which could help reduce the scope for corruption in our public
life.
As a society, we must evolve to a level where probity becomes a way of
life, where honesty is a routine expectation. If we have integrity, then
nothing else matters, if we don’t have integrity then also nothing else
matters. I firmly believe that we must set personal standards of integrity
as public servants and the message should flow from the top downwards and
not the other way round.
We must, of course, make a distinction between the occasional genuine
mistake by an honest official and acts driven by deliberate mal-intent.
While taking measures against corruption in public life, there is a need
to ensure that such measures do not undermine independent initiative and
decision-making capacity of those assigned the duty and authority to do
so. The crucial question for you here is how far your investigative
systems can make this vital distinction between genuine error of judgement
and deliberate malafide on the part of public servants. Otherwise,
decision-making processes can be easily paralysed to our great peril.
For this purpose, the CBI should develop an understanding of
decision-making processes within the Government in their totality and its
investigations should not be confined to legalese and mere fault-finding.
The CBI needs to re-appraise its approach, methodology and the perspective
so as to facilitate ongoing developmental processes rather than being
perceived as a stumbling block in certain circles. I often hear that the
CBI takes far too long a time to complete its investigations. How far is
this true, I cannot say, however, you need to seriously ponder over this
issue and take necessary remedial measures.
I am happy to learn that the Director CBI has constituted a Committee to
go into the issue of empowerment of Investigating Officers and Prosecutors
and suggest appropriate remedial measures. These ranks are the backbone of
the organisation. I hope the steps taken will improve their efficiency of
performance of your officers and your organisation. There is also a need
to provide incentives to those who work in your organization so that you
can attract highly talented, bright minds. After all, human resource is
your biggest asset. Our government will favourably consider proposals to
provide such incentives. I am aware of the proposal to which my colleague,
Shri Suresh Pachauri made a reference about giving an additional allowance
to staff at certain ranks. Our Government is favourably inclined and will
take an appropriate decision in the matter very soon.
The CBI also needs to modernize of its procedures, techniques and
technologies for addressing the challenge of white collar and economic
crimes. You should use your expertise, criminal investigative resources,
and strong relationships with regulatory agencies to handle these crimes
in order to maintain public confidence in the country’s financial
institutions and our financial markets.
The CBI should also strive to expand its intelligence base to identify
methodologies to tackle money laundering by individuals, enterprises, and
institutions and create barriers to the entry for tainted money into our
financial system.
Another issue we need to consider is if we need an apex agency to serve as
a national focal point for crime & forensic information to provide
adequate, accurate and timely assistance to various law enforcement
agencies and regulators. The CBI may consider the feasibility of
developing a centralised data base of terrorists, insurgents and organised
criminal syndicates and share it with state police forces. Given the
unique status amongst the law enforcement agencies of the country, the CBI
should seize the initiative to emerge as a truly world-class,
multidisciplinary investigative agency.
I do admit your mission is onerous. But, I do have faith in your
capabilities and your commitment. As the father of our Nation, Mahatma
Gandhi, once said “A small body of determined spirits, fired by an
unquenchable faith in their mission, can alter the course of human
history”.
I am sure the CBI can do it. I am sure that the CBI will continue with its
tradition of excellence. I, once again, convey my deep appreciation of the
excellent work done by the CBI in the past and I convey to all of you my
very best wishes for the future.”
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