NEW DELHI, April 21 (Agencies) - Calling for strong steps against terrorists
and Left wing extremists, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has said no quarter would be given to those who challenge the authority of the Indian state.
Dr Singh, however, called for taking concerted action to remove backwardness of these regions, noting that many of the areas where extremism flourished today were underdeveloped and many of the people, mainly tribals, who live in this area, had not enjoyed the fruits of development.
He said civil servants had a pivotal role in ensuring that the benefits of all programmes percolate to the farthest and remotest villages of the country.
''It is a daunting task that will test the endurance and mettle of our civil servants, especially that of the All-India Services,'' said Dr Singh speaking after inaugurating the Civil Services Day here.
While noting that since Independence, the civil services had played a critical role in establishing a secular and democratic form of government, in maintaining communal peace and harmony, in transforming the economy and in fighting disease, poverty, ignorance and inequalities of opportunities, he said still there was scope for improvement.
''There are also areas in which the civil services should have and could have performed better. I hope that the future will see a removal or at least a reduction in the deficiencies in the performance of our civil servants,'' he said.
