Chidambaram for result-oriented 'rapid action' against terror

NEW DELHI: Terming the task of strengthening internal security as a major challenge, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram today called for result-oriented "rapid action" to check terrorism.

Chidambaram, who took over the Ministry on Monday in the aftermath of the Mumbai attacks, held a meeting with senior officials.

Addressing the officers as his "cabinet members", he said people's expectations of the Home Ministry were very high and that the security establishment has to be accountable to the people who wanted to live a safe and secure life.

The 63-year-old Home Minister, who had held the internal security portfolio some two decades ago, stressed on short-term measures as the tenure of the current government was coming to an end early next year.

These measures would be taken in the next two to three weeks, a senior official, who attended the meeting, said.

That he meant business was borne from his remark to the officials that they could meet him any time they liked.

With the intelligence set up coming under flak after every terror attack, the Home Minister held a long meeting yesterday with top intelligence officials.

He has already held discussions with National Security Advisor M K Narayanan, Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta and IB Chief P C Haldar on security related matters.