'I have heard the anguished voice of India,' he tells media.
Within 24 hours of appointing him home minister, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi have asked former Finance Minister P Chidambaram to prepare a plan of action on revamping internal security.
According to top sources in the United Progressive Alliance, this scheme is likely to be announced on December 10, the first day of Parliament for the third round of the monsoon session.
On November 20, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had announced his plan to set up a task force to make a plan within 100 days to address emerging challenges in tackling terrorism, Naxalism and insurgency.
But after the Mumbai terror attack, both Gandhi and Singh have realised that time is too short and some immediate action is required to regain public confidence. So, ahead of the Prime Minister’s task force, Chidambaram will lay down his plan of action to give a fresh look at the efforts to curb terror and other internal security challenges.
Today after assuming charge he addressed his first press conference. He answered no questions, only listening to them. But he made a strong opening statement that set the tone for his tenure.
"I recognise there is a sense of anguish and deep shock among the people of India. Like every one of you, I have heard this anguished voice of India... I welcome the sense of purpose displayed at the all-party meeting. I also need help from the states and sub-state agencies. I want to assure the people of India, we will respond with determination and resolve, to this grave threat to India, the threat to the idea, the soul of India — India which is a secular, tolerant, open, society."
"I have heard your questions. I will respond on Friday," he then told reporters.
Chidambaram’s day began with a meeting with Sonia Gandhi. He is learnt to have taken a brief from Gandhi, whose decisive voice for change and action led to his appointment. The meeting was also attended by Defence Minister A K Antony and Gandhi's political aide Ahmed Patel.
The home minister also held a long meeting with National Security Advisor M K Narayanan for a briefing on the security situation. He later met senior bureaucrats in the ministry of home affairs.
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