Thaindian News

New Delhi, May 25 (IANS) A second 100-day action plan to counter terrorism has been drawn up and would be implemented from June 1, Home Minister P. Chidambaram said Monday.
“As directed by the prime minister, MHA (ministry of home affairs) will draw up another 100-day plan that will be taken up for implementation beginning June 1,” he said in a signed statement distributed at his press conference here.

On Feb 20, Chidambaram had approved a 100-day action plan to be implemented Feb 21-May 31.

“The home secretary has informed me that the action plan has been substantially implemented,” the home minister said.

The 100-day plans are among the various initiatives ordered by Chidambaram in the wake of the Nov 26-29, 2008 Mumbai terror attacks that claimed the lives of more than 170 people, including 26 foreigners.

Another initiative is the establishment here of a Multi-Agency Centre (MAC) tasked with collecting intelligence in real time, optimising intelligence flow and coordinating between different agencies.

In the next stage, SMACs or State Multi-Agency Centres, are to be set up.

Chidambaram said terrorism, Maoist violence, insurgency in the northeast and maintaining public order and communal harmony were the key challenges before the country and he would focus on them.

He also noted that his ministry would implement the promises made in the Congress party’s election manifesto on dealing with the “scourge of terrorism squarely and decisively” and “providing strong leadership to meet the challenge of terrorism”.

Chidambaram said that following the practice he had instituted after assuming office in the wake of the Mumbai massacre, the home ministry would present a report at the end of every month on the tasks that were completed during the month.

“We would welcome an evaluation of our work by the people of the country. I seek your (media’s) cooperation in communicating the work done by the MHA to the people and to bring to our notice the feedback from the people,” the home minister said.