An hour after he assumed charge of his new office at 4.30 pm, Home Minister Chidambaram said he was fully cognisant “of the sense of anguish and deep shock among the people of India.” “I’ve heard the anguished voice of India,” he said.
“Over the last few days, the Congress Working
Committee, the highest policy making bodies of all parties, and ultimately at the all party meeting yesterday, leaders have declared that there is and will be a unity of purpose in dealing with the situation. I welcome the sense of purpose at the all party meeting.”
“I want to assure the people of India that we will respond with determination and resolve to the grave threats posed to the Indian nation. This is a threat to the very idea of India, the very soul of India that we know, that we love -- secular, plural, tolerant and open society. I have no doubt that the idea of India will triumph," he told reporters this evening. He added that he needed the help and support of the people of India, of the states, the state governments.
This is not Chidambaram’s first stint at the home ministry. He had been here earlier as the Minister of State in charge of internal security and when asked what was different he replied “I’m older, you tell me if I’m wiser.”
Flooded with a barrage of questions from the media about the Mumbai attack and related issues, the minister, said he would familiarise himself in the next few days with issues pending in the ministry and would respond with a full fledged media briefing by the end of the week.
In North Block, where the home ministry is located, the day saw, Raman Srivastava assumed charge as Special Secretary, Internal Security. The Kerala cadre 1973 bacth officer takes over from ML Kumawat who was appointed director general of the Border Security Force.
Earlier in the day, a lull prevailed at North Block, since the minister has a reputation of being a tough taskmaster. With colleagues from the finance ministry tipping them off that “he (Chidambaram) is very pleasant to deal with but he will suffer no complacency,” several officials spent the morning reviewing their own work profiles.
While Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta is believed to have met and briefed Chidambaram on Sunday, on Monday National Security Adviser, MK Narayanan briefed him at his finance ministry office, this morning. The minister held a quick review meeting with the home secretary and the Special Secretary, Internal Security as soon as he took over. Those who called on him included, DG of the National Security Guards, JK Dutt.