PC'S path to tackle terror correct: Shinde

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Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde on Wednesday night said the strategy adopted by his predecessor P. Chidambaram to counter terror threat in the wake of 26/11 strike in Mumbai was 'proper' but left the doors open for improvement.

"I feel the path pursued by my predecessor in the wake of Mumbai attack was the proper one," he told PTI adding the government would continue the policies.

He said if there was any need for making improvement, the same would be done after discussions in relevent forums. On Maoist problem, Shinde said the issue of Naxalism cannot be tackled overnight and needed concerted efforts by the Centre and the states to address the problems that gave rise to the menace.

Shinde said the Maoist problem has been in the country since early 1960s and to tackle it the Prime Minister has been emphasising on the problem of rehabilitation of tribals and issue of land ownership.

Dismissing suggestions that his approach would be soft in tackling the Maoist menace, he said he has seen the problem as Maharashtra Chief Minister in Gadchiroli district.

Asked whether he would keep on hold the controversial issue of NCTC which faced strong opposition from several states including UPA ally Trinamool Congress, Shinde said Chidambaram had initiated some steps to address the concerns of the states.

"We are living in a federal structure. Our structure is not unitary. There may be governments of various parties in the states. Party and politics has its own place. The nation belongs to all. We should together save our nation," he said.

Shinde, who started as a police sub-inspector in Maharashtra, said since he has risen from the ranks, the welfare of police was in his heart and he would strive to give results on issues like housing and their salary as also modernisation of police forces.

The new Home Minister, who was handling Power portfolio till Tuesday, rejected criticism that the collapse of Northern, Easter and Northeast grids showed poorly on his stewardship of the Ministry.

Claiming his work as Power Minister was successful, he said his six and half years in the Ministry saw an additional generation of 80,000MW, which was a 'record'.

"How can anyone dub me inefficient when the 11th Plan saw addition of 55,000MW of electricity, which was two and half times of capacity addition in 8th, 9th Plan and 10th Plan."

Shinde, who has come up in life in harsh circumstances, said he likes to take up challenges and therefore the new assignment has come to him as another challenge.

Disputing suggestions that the responsibility has been given to him because he was a Dalit, he said the leadership has entrusted him the task as they have also seen his capacity.

Asked about the future role of Rahul Gandhi, Shinde said he is the leader. "I would like him to work both in the government and the party. We see him in place of late Rajiv Gandhi," he said.

He rejected suggestions that Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar would have been upset because of his being made the Home Minister.