New Delhi, December 23: President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday lauded the Intelligence Bureau (IB) for its “stellar role” in ensuring the security, unity, and integrity of the nation since Independence, while addressing the IB Centenary Endowment Lecture in the national capital.
Speaking on the theme “People-Centric National Security: Community Participation in Building Viksit Bharat,” the President said the subject holds both immediate and long-term significance for India. She emphasized that national security is not the responsibility of institutions alone but of every citizen.
President Murmu underscored the importance of community participation in strengthening national security, citing numerous instances where alert citizens have assisted professional forces in averting security crises. “People need not be passive observers of what happens around them. They must become alert and active partners in securing their surroundings and regions beyond. Jan Bhagidari is the cornerstone of people-centric security,” she said.
She stressed that civil police and internal security agencies must function with a spirit of service to build trust among citizens, describing public trust as a precondition for developing an effective people-centric national security strategy.
Highlighting India’s evolving security landscape, the President noted that the country faces multi-dimensional challenges, including border tensions, terrorism, militancy, insurgency, communal radicalisation, and the growing threat of cybercrime. She pointed out that insecurity in any part of the country has far-reaching economic consequences, adding that security is a key driver of investment and growth. “Building Surakshit Bharat is essential for building Samriddh Bharat,” she said.
President Murmu also observed that left-wing extremism is close to total eradication, attributing the progress to sustained action by security forces and agencies, coupled with a holistic approach focused on building community trust. Initiatives promoting socio-economic inclusion in tribal and remote areas, she noted, have been effective in preventing exploitation by extremist and insurgent groups.
Addressing the impact of digital platforms, the President said social media has transformed communication and information sharing, carrying the potential for both creation and destruction. She described combating misinformation as a major challenge and called for the creation of a community of responsible social media users who consistently promote fact-based narratives in the national interest.
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