Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh addressing the nation on the occasion of the 63rd Independence Day noted that the recent elections in Jammu and Kashmir had demonstrated that separatist ideology had no place in the state and asserted that the central government will work to ensure that human rights are respected. He added that the central government would continue to assist the state in improving governance in the state.

Dr. Singh also assured all help to the state authorities to root out the twin menaces of terrorism and Naxalism. He promised all help to make their police forces more effective and stated that central forces would be provided wherever they were needed. Criticising naxalite violence, Dr. Singh charged that "those who think that they can seize power by recourse to the gun do not understand the strength of our democracy1."

• 1. “Separatist ideology has no place in J&K: PM,” Daily Excelsior, August 16, 2009, at http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/web1/09aug16/news.htm#1