Modi praises Chidambaram at security meet

The Centre and states were on the same page in the fight against terrorism and Naxalism, said Union Home Minister P Chidambaram after a meeting on internal security with chief ministers from all the states.

The Centre and states were on the same page in the fight against terrorism and Naxalism, said Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram after a meeting on internal security with chief ministers from all the states.

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“Not a single discordant note emerged in the conference. The whole nation is responding in the spirit of unity,” he said.

An endorsement followed with delay from none other than Gujarat’s BJP Chief Minister Narender Modi, a known Congress-baiter.

“We are now getting positive and speedier response from the Centre over the terror issue,” Modi said at the conference, the third in 13 months.

Together, India will overcome any threat.

“The whole nation is responding in the spirit of unity. It is in itself a big achievement,” Chidambaram said, emphasising that state governments irrespective of their political affiliations were “on the same page”.

Both Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chidambaram made it clear that India was determined to put down attempts from across the border to foment trouble.

Singh said increasing violence by left-wing extremists was “worrisome” and called for calibrated action to avoid alienating people living in tribal areas.

Chidambaram said Naxalites had “scoffed at and spurned” the government’s offer for dialogue.

“Hence, in consultation with chief ministers of Naxal-affected states, we decided to boldly confront the challenge thrown by the CPI (Maoist),” said Chidambaram, who is visiting Kolkata this week to review coordinated anti-Naxal action plans.