All potential steps to be taken to strengthen integrity, safety of India: Home Minister

Thiruvananthapuram : Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh chaired the 27th meeting of the Southern Zonal Council at Thiruvananthapuram,on Wednesday and said all possible steps will be taken to preserve and strengthen the integrity and safety of our country.

Union Home Minister said that the government is committed to further strengthen the Zonal Councils and the Inter State Council.

Rajnath said that the meetings of five Zonal Councils and their Standing Committees were held in 2015 after a long gap.

The Home Minister said that the Zonal Councils provide a common meeting ground for the States to promote and facilitate coordinated efforts for fostering economic and social development.

HM said he was happy to note that both the member states and the central ministries have brought forward many important issues for consideration of the Southern Zonal Council.

The Home Minister further said that the Left Wing Extremism had been assuming serious dimensions in certain parts of the country.

The recent incidents that occurred in Kerala underscored the paramount need for further tightening up of administrative and police machinery, he added.

He said that state govt must ensure better inter-state coordination and take up joint operations in common border areas.

The Council revised progress of implementation of various recommendations made in the last meeting relating to issues of fishermen, Extension of High Speed Rail Corridor between Thiruvananthapuram up to Mangalore and Udupi, Peninsular Region Industrial Development Corridor, introduction of peninsular tourism trains in the zone and Amendments to the New Road Transport & Road Safety Bill.