No country can be ambivalent to fight terrorism: Indian Prez

New Delhi, Jan 25 (PTI) In a rejection of Pakistan's contention that independent actors were behind the Mumbai attack, Indian President Pratibha Patil Sunday said such arguments cannot be accepted as she asked the international community to take "decisive" action to fight terrorism.

"No country can afford to take an ambivalent attitude
in this fight. Arguments that terrorism is being perpetuated
by independent actors are self-defeating and cannot be
accepted," Patil said without naming Pakistan in her address
on the eve of the 60th Republic Day.

Pakistan has washed its hands off any involvement in
the Mumbai terror attack insisting that those behind it were
non-state actors and that the official agencies had no role in
it.

Countries must own up their responsibilities in
defeating terrorism, she said while asking the international
community to take "decisive and united" action to combat
terrorism, which poses a grave threat to the stability of the
world.

In her speech, Patil also spoke about the slow down of
the global economy triggered by the action of some credit and
banking institutions and profiled the need for stronger
corporate governance.

"There must be clear principles of accountability when
such losses take place," she said in an apparent reference to
to the over Rs 7,000-crore Satyam fraud.

The President said the concerted and well-planned
attack in Mumbai in November stood out as an example of a
ruthless operation undertaken to damage the confidence of
India.

"The nation was outraged. However, contrary to what
the terrorists had hoped, the event saw the emergence of a
unified and strong voice from India," she said.

The President noted that India is located in a region
which "harbours the epicentre of terrorism" and has been a
victim of the menace over the last two decades.

Over the last one year, terrorism and violence,
natural disasters, volatility in oil and food prices besides
the global meltdown had tested the inherent success and
highlighted the need for monitoring and response mechanisms,
she stressed.

Referring to the measures being taken recently to
secure the nation against terrorist and fundamentalist
elements, Patil said the government has put in place a new
agency to deal with such threats and has also brought in
legislative changes.

She said a determined, coordinated and concerted
approach by all agencies to tackle this menace was necessary.

Asking citizens and media to be part of this security
network, she said this entailed "responsible behaviour in
which we are aware of our surroundings, and do not
inadvertently create an atmosphere of fear or insecurity".

The elections that were held after the Mumbai attack
to the legislative assemblies in some states, including Jammu
and Kashmir, had seen a large voter turnout thereby
reaffirming the faith of the people in a democratic polity,
Patil said.

Asking the people to fight divisive agendas, the
President said they should work for an India "in which our
first identity is Indian".

"We cannot give in to regional, sectarian or caste
considerations," she said contending that these concepts
militate against the very principle chosen to be followed in
the journey as a free nation.

Referring to the economic meltdown, Patil said the
need for strengthening the oversight mechanism for financial
institutions and for transparent rules was being acutely felt.

"Some companies that over-extended or functioned in an
unethical manner have caused losses to share holders. Such
incidents profile the need for stronger corporate governance.
There must be clear principles of accountability when such
losses take place," she said.

Seeking greater international cooperation for evolving
more credible and viable financial structure, Patil said the
instances of financial imprudence, which can put global
welfare at jeopardy, could not be allowed to happen again.

The President also underscored the need to address
gender bias which has resulted in social malpractices like
female foeticide, dowry, child marriage and other evils.

With a view to make society sensitive towards the girl
child, the National Girl Child Day is being celebrated on
January 24 from this year, Patil said.

Making a mention of the nuclear civil cooperation
agreement with the US, she said it had made India a
participant in the international regime for nuclear energy.

Emphasising that technology should be used to counter
terrorist threat to the nation, she said "we should be far
ahead of the terrorists who are increasingly using
sophisticated technology to carry out their violent agenda".
PTI ACB