Home minister P Chidambaram asserted that the center's response to any terror attack would be "swift and decisive".
The government would adopt "zero tolerance" towards those taking up the gun, home minister P Chidambaram said on Sunday asserting that its response to any terror attack would be "swift and decisive".
"There are three kinds of challenges to internal security... insurgency in the North-East.....naxalism and terror groups," Chidambaram said at a conclave of Congress district and block level office-bearers here.
Asserting that India's sovereignty was safe in the hands of a Congress goverment, the home minister said, "Our response will be swift and decisive to any terror attack... Our policy towards terror is of zero-tolerance and we will pursue this policy to wipe out terror."
Chidambaram said the government had recognised the need for special development in the North-Eastern states through investment and also through institutions like Hill Councils to meet the aspirations of the people.
Naming Manipur, Assam and Nagaland as the states infested by insurgency, Chidambaram said other North-East states like Mizoram, Meghalaya, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh had recognised the importance of development and were moving on
this path.
"We have made it clear that we will not tolerate insurgency," Chidambaram said, adding, the government cannot deny development to the people of North-East even if there is insurgency.
He said there are seven naxal-infested states in the country where the naxalites are aiming to overthrow elected governments by violence.
"Such groups have no place in a Democratic Republic. Left-wing extremism will be met with all the force at our command..." he said.
The home minister said the third challenge was of Jehadi terror.
Referring to Hindu militancy in this context, the home minister said, "Whoever takes up the gun and the path of terror is the enemy of the state and has to be met squarely."
Chidambaram said the Centre has sensitized the states to the threat and hoped they would respond.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}