New Delhi, Jan 21: Home Minister P Chidambaram
Wednesday night said nothing that Pakistan has done so far on India`s
dossier on Mumbai terror attacks can be termed "satisfactory"
but some "significant progress" has been made between January
4 and today.
He also expressed government`s resolve to act against
terror with speed and determination in the next 150 days.
"Nothing that Pakistan has done can be termed
satisfactory. Given the fourth of January and today I think
there is some significant progress but we should be prepared
for any eventuality," Chidambaram said at a function in
which `Best Indian of the Year` awards instituted by NDTV were
given away.
Chidamabaram said he was keeping his fingers crossed.
"We will have to wait and see and we should be prepared."
"This terror can be defeated only by determined action,"
he added.
On January four, Pakistan said the dossier handed over by
India in connection with the Mumbai terror attack was only
"information" and not evidence after refusing to acknowledge
that the lone captured terrorist Ajmal Kasab was its national.
Later, Pakistan confirmed Kasab`s Pakistani identity and also
described the Indian dossier as containing good leads and
clues.
Chidambaram said as far as the government was concerned
it had to act with speed and determination.
"I can`t constantly look over my shoulder and ask myself
what will media say tomorrow. If I constantly look over my
shoulder I won`t take any decision. But in these 150 days I
will act with speed, with determination and with finality."
The Home Minister said lot of things have to change
within the government. Equally a very important attitudinal
change has to come among the people.
"Terror as we know in the 21st century cannot be
defeated with words or utterings of peace or love or affection
or goodwill. This terror is mindless terror. This terror is
motiveless terror," Chidambaram said.
He recalled Dalai Lama`s speech here last week that this
terror cannot be defeated by non-violence. " This is a sad
conclusion but the right conclusion."
Chidambaram said that since India gave evidence to
Pakistan on January 4 there has been significant movement
forward.
"After we gave evidence to Pakistan, the Pakistan
government has been obliged to change its position several
times and accept the leads given to them. There has been
significant movement forward " Chidambaram said.
In reply to a question on the changes in India`s
attitude to the fight against terrorism, Chidambaram said
India had now set two clear objectives.
Enumerating them, he said, "Increase the level of
preparedness of security forces and respond with determination
to any terror threat or terror attack."
He said there are no roadblocks in meeting the
challenge of terrorism. "Money or human resource is not a
constraint... but eternal vigilance is the price of liberty,"
he said.
Bureau Report
