Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has asked the states to gear up to meet the challenges posed by terrorism and Naxalism.
In a message that comes close on the heels of the Mumbai blasts and the killing of several policemen in Chhattisgarh, the prime minister underlined that responses in the past have been inadequate.
"We need to gear ourselves to meet these challenges. Business cannot be carried on as usual. We just recognise that past responses are inadequate in dealing with these problems which are of a different intensity, magnitude, scale and scope," he told the chief secretaries of the state governments.
While seven blasts on Mumbai's suburban trains last week killed about 200 people, violence has escalated in Jammu and Kashmir and Naxalites slaughtered about 25 cops in Chhattisgarh.
The prime minister said these incidents have brought out the extent of penetration of terrorist elements. "We cannot allow them to succeed and get away with their crimes," he said.
"We need to marshal all our resources, utilise all available technology and improve the capabilities of our manpower in meeting these challenges," Dr Singh said.
He noted that he had said in the past that Naxalism is 'probably the single biggest challenge' to the country's internal security.
Dr Singh said the threats posed by terrorism and extremism have to be firmly met with determination and the will to destroy them.
"You will have to empower your police forces to be able to discharge their functions at a higher level of efficiency," he said.
Talking extensively on the issue of internal security, the prime minister said the country faces the challenge of terrorism and Naxalism in many parts.
"It is the primary responsibility of the state to maintain public order and ensure the safety of its people," he said.
After the Mumbai explosions, the prime minister had hinted at Pakistan's involvement, noting that terror modules 'instigated, inspired and supported' by elements across the border carried out the blasts.