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 states.
“Not a single discordant note emerged in the conference. The whole nation is responding in the spirit of unity,” the home minister said on Sunday.
And an endorsement followed without delay and 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 terror issue,” Modi said at the conference.
Together, India will overcome any threat.
India will not allow the “dark forces” in Pakistan to succeed in their designs, Chidambaram said. “The whole nation is respo-nding in the spirit of unity. It is in itself a big achievement,” the home minister said, emphasising state governments, irrespective of their political affiliations, were “on the same page”.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who spoke earlier on, and Chidambaram both made it clear to the chief ministers that India was determined to put down attempts from across the border to foment trouble.
{{/usCountry}}Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who spoke earlier on, and Chidambaram both made it clear to the chief ministers that India was determined to put down attempts from across the border to foment trouble.
{{/usCountry}}Singh added the trend of increasing violence by left-wing extremists was “worrisome” and called for calibrated action to avoid alienating people living in the tribal areas.
Elaborating on the approach, Chidambaram said the naxals had “scoffed at and spurned” the government’s previous offer for dialogue.
“Hence, in consultation with the Chief Ministers of naxal-affected States, we decided to boldly confront the challenge thrown by the CPI(Maoist),” said the home minister, who is visiting Kolkata this week to review coordinated anti-naxal action plans.