PM says terrorism is the "most dangerous threat"

The Prime Minister felt more than external aggression, internal security posed a serious challenge.

Warning that "subversive" forces were at work, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday said globalisation has given rise to new forms of criminality and felt more than external aggression, internal security posed serious challenge.

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The Prime Minister also described terrorism as the "most dangerous threat" on Thursday. "From an occasional footnote, it has become a hydra-headed monster," he said while addressing the passing out parade of the 58th batch of 78 IPS probationers in Hyderabad.

Asking the budding IPS officers to show courage, determination and the necessary resilience to meet such challenges, he said "today's terrorists are most sophisticated, have transnational linkages and adequate resources." Singh also spoke of 'white collar' crime taking on new dimensions. "Sophisticated instrumentalities are available to criminals which need to be countered," he stressed.

Observing that economic globalisation and technological development have altered the nature of crime, giving rise to new forms of criminality, he said "there are subversive forces at work" posing challenges to peace in numerous forms.

"Perhaps, even more than external aggression, we need to be concerned about internal security. In some instances, there is of course an external dimension to the internal threat. But, it will be your responsibility to ensure internal security. You must all gear up to meet this challenge."