Ficci suggests 'terror cess' to fund new security set-up

Industry body Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci) has said its 400-odd member-associations are ready to help the government raise funds to invest in an appropriate anti-terrorism mechanism following last month’s Mumbai attacks.

“We are ready to pay a terror cess if the government feels lack of resources is coming in the way of countering the threat from terrorists to our national security,” said Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Ficci president and CEO of private equity investor Jupiter Capital.

Chandrasekhar, also a Rajya Sabha member, was speaking to Business Standard on the sidelines of a conference on terrorism and national security organised by Ficci.

“The private sector, like other citizens, is ready to join hands with the government to win this battle,” he added.

Chandrasekhar announced that Ficci would soon set up a task force to monitor the government’s response and follow-up action on its promise of countering terrorism.

“After what happened in Mumbai, the business community can no longer sit silent. We, along with the civil society, have to get positively engaged in monitoring the impact of the Mumbai attacks and exploring solutions to this problem,” he said.

The Ficci chief said the proposed task force would work towards engaging India’s best experts, policy-makers and leaders to chart out a course of action on preparing the country to face challenges.

“We have to ensure that the issue of terrorism does not fade away from the nation’s priorities even after it goes out of newspaper headlines,” he said, adding that Ficci would launch a “war of ideas” across the country to this effect.

Chandrasekhar said the business body would highlight the specific recommendations of the Veerappa Moily-headed Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) to make the government more responsive and efficient.

Among other things, the Moily reports had recommended the creation of a central intelligence agency along the lines of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation to counter crimes with national and international ramifications.

Meanwhile , in the aftermaths of the terror attacks British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is scheduled to visit India on Sunday.