Violence down, Chidambaram pats himself

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram has said that the level of violence in troubled states of Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, Nagaland and Manipur had come down in last two and half years that he has been in the office.

In the same breath, Chidambaram, however, stated that there was a need to review the security arrangements in the coastal belt in view of terrorist attack on a navy base in Pakistan after killing of Osama bin Laden.

While talking to media persons, Chidambaram also said the government had not received "any positive indication" from Pakistan on sending its commission to that country in order to question 26/11 terror attack accused.

When asked about any time frame for visit of Indian commission to Pakistan, he said, "That is a suggestion that is put forward. That they should reciprocate by receiving our team. We have not got any positive indication on that yet. We do not have affirmative response on that yet."

On the decision to retain 144 companies of central forces post-election in West Bengal, the home minister said: "The government of West Bengal has to take the call. For the time being I have agreed to retain the company so let's wait to hear from them."

The forces were deployed to ensure that post-election the peace was maintained, he said and noted that everyday illegal arms were also being recovered in the state.

On illegal phone tapping in West Bengal allegedly by the previous Left Front government, Chidambaram said the new state government has ordered an inquiry and it will reveal the facts.