By Bernama,
New Delhi : Taking over as India’s Home Minister in the aftermath of the country’s worst terror strikes in Mumbai, P Chidambaram Monday said the government would respond with “determination and resolve” to the “grave threats” posed to the country, Press Trust of India (PTI) reported.
“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 ultimately the idea of India will triumph,” he told reporters soon after assuming office to which he was appointed Sunday.
The 63-year-old Chidambaram, who succeeds Shivraj Patil and comes back to the Ministry after two decades, parried all questions saying he would hold a full-fledged press conference before weekend once he settles down.
“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,” he said.
Chidambaram, who was the Finance Minister in the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government since May, 2004, opened his brief interaction with the press saying he recognised that there was a “sense of anguish and deep shock” among the people of India.
“Like everyone I have heard the anguished voice of India over the last few days,” he said noting that all political parties have separately and together declared that there is and there will be unity of purpose in dealing with the situation.
“I welcome the sense of purpose displayed at the all party meeting summed up by the Prime Minister (Manmohan Singh),” he said.
On his first day as the Home Minister, Chidambaram held meetings with National Security Advisor M K Narayanan, Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta and senior officials of the Ministry.
He said in the next day or two he would familiarise himself with various issues pending in the Ministry and sought cooperation, help and support of the people of India, state governments and various organisations.
To a question how he looked at his first stint in the Home Ministry handling internal security during the Rajiv Gandhi government and the prevailing security situation, he said “I am older today and wiser”.
Asked whether India had lodged a protest with Pakistan in the aftermath of Mumbai terror strike, Chidambaram said he could not answer the specific question.
To a question as to how he would go about implementing the decisions referred to by the Prime Minister at Sunday’s all party meeting on having a federal agency, setting up four National Security Guards (NSG) hubs in different parts of the country and having a legal framework to tackle terrorism, he said these things would be addressed during his press conference later this week.