The Muslim minorities were clearly high on the agenda of Congress president Sonia Gandhi [Images] and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images] while they addressed the chief ministers of 14 Congress-ruled states here Saturday.

Sonia has summoned these chief ministers for a two-day conclave in the Himalayan Lake resort.

While expressing deep anguish and concern over the terrorist strikes in different parts of the country, both Sonia and Singh emphasised the need to ensure that anti-terrorist measures do not create a sense of insecurity among the minorities.

"The police, in order to be sustainable, must sensitise and mobilise local communities and tough police action should not lead to polarisation," Sonia said.

Sonia said, "While there can be no compromise on internal security. We must make sure that no community feels under siege or as automatic target of suspicion."

Dr Singh, on his part, felt that there was an urgent need to "augment the number of personnel from the minority community in the police forces as well as intelligence agencies."

He also stressed upon the necessity to re-deploy capable officers belonging to minority communities on sensitive positions. He was of the view that such a step could help in building confidence among members of such communities.

Stressing the need to upgrade the entire intelligence machinery, Sonia urged the chief ministers to 'carry out this task with diligence and urgency'.

"The central government should also enable each state to have a fully-equipped, properly-trained and highly motivated anti-terrorism force," she added.