Home Minister offered to resign after Dantewada attack: Sources

[herakles]

The Home Minister, P Chidambaram, says he accepts "full responsibility" for India's worst-ever Naxal attack on Monday, in which 76 jawans were killed in Chhattisgarh. Sources say that earlier this week, Chidambaram also wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and offered to resign over the massacre

"I have been asked directly but not indirectly where does the buck stop for what happened in Dantewada. There is no hesitation in saying that the buck stops at my desk. I accept full responsibility for what happened in Dantewada," he said on Friday at a function to honour Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans.

He added, "Immediately after my return from Chhattisgarh I called the PM and gave it in writing that I take full responsibility of what happened. But he has said he "will not elaborate further on contents of letter."

Government sources say that there's no question of the Home Minister's offer to resign being accepted.

The sources said Chidambaram also wrote a separate letter to Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

Over the last few days, "the buck stops" has become a polemical catch-phrase hurled publicly by politicians on the Naxal issue.

First, Chidambaram said "The buck stops with the Chief Minister" in reference to the West Bengal state government after he visited Lalgarh, the Naxal stronghold in West Bengal. Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, the West Bengal Chief Minister, took strong exception to Chidambaram's language. Then BJP leader Arun Jaitley said "The buck stops with the Home Minister.

On Monday, jawans of the Central Reserve Police Force were returning from a "sanitizing operation" in the forests of Dantewada in Chhattisgarh when they were ambushed by hundreds of Naxals who opened fire. Positioned on hilltops, the Naxals struck swiftly; jawans who tried to seek refuge near trees in the thick forests were killed in landmine blasts.

Home Minister offered to resign after Dantewada attack: Sources

 

[Justin Joseph]

^^^^^^^

no need to do silly thing under pressure or emotions.

What other options we have as good home minister.

a. at shivraj patil's time 26/11 to the bomb blast on weekly basis was norm.

b. at advani's time there were attacks on amarnath yatra, vesho devi pilgrimage, akshardham temple, Red Fort and even Indian parliament.

Just give me one name who's a congress MP from 206 nos. of MPs of congress who will be better than chidambaram??

Only from congress MPs as this is very important and sensitive portfolio and congress will not give it to any other alliance partner. MP because a minister has to a MP.

 

[herakles]

^^^^^^^

no need to do silly thing under pressure or emotions.

What other options we have as good home minister.

He is the best we can get...............But seems to be hurt by recent developments................first WB CM talks against him and than tragedy

 

[Mirza Jatt]

This will be silly..I dont think he should resign...though I dont support any political party in general but I think this man is worth the post...I might be wrong..but thats my personal view.

 

[herakles]

another source

PC offers to quit over Dantewada massacre

New Delhi: Union Home Minister P Chidambaram has reportedly offered to resign taking responsibility for the Dantewada massacre in which the Maoists butchered 76 security personnel.
Sources say that a section within the Congress party is unhappy with the way Chidambaram has handled the Maoist issue so far including his tough talk on the rebels and his friction with West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.

Chidamram reportedly met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh taking "full responsibility" for the Dantewada attack on a CRPF patrol party and offered to step down.
Earlier, on Friday while attending the Valour Day function of the CRPF, Chidambaram said, "I salute the CRPF. I promise that government will always stand by you. Where does the buck stop after Dantewada? The buck stops at my desk. I accept full responsibility of what happened in Dantewada. I told this to the Prime Minister as well."
A large group of Maoists had ambushed the CPRF team belonging to the 62 Battalion between 6 AM and 7 AM on Tuesday between Chintalnar and Tademetla villages in Sukma block of Dantewada district of Chhattigarh when the security personnel were on the way to Tademetla in a vehicle.
The Maoists, believed to be between 200-1000, first triggered a land mine destroying the vehicle carrying the security personnel. In the ensuing gunbattle 75 CRPF men and one local police constable were killed.

 

[Marxist]

Chidambaram offered resignation to PM and Sonia Gandhi ,and they will deny it.and he will continue, simple political drama to divert attention from real issues.

 

[ek_indian]

While I agree that P. Chidambaram is somewhat "bigmouthed" leader. I mean he talks too much and too often. However he is certainly trying to do something where others are sitting idle. Also his resignation should not be accepted as this would only increase the morale of naxalites/maoists. We are also not sure about future HM if being appointed.

Added: after thinking and reading other views, it might be careefully planned political nautanki as well.

 

[Mallu]

He is one of the Best HM India Had

 

[sivadreams]

He has brought in much needed changes as HM, but is this enough is a big question. I think a system should be developed on sustained changes more than ad-hoc changes.

There is no need for changing HM to different hands as this is only going to complicate lots of day to day affairs.

Yes a political gimmick to offer resignation as the opposition will jump its guns and use the opportunity for their benefit.

 

[soul-eater]

dont worry he is not going pm will not allow him

he has to finsih his job in best way

 

[ek_indian]

Reports are saying that PM has rejeected his reesignation.

The Hindu : News / National : Manmohan rejects Chidambaram's resignation offer

Home Minister P. Chidambaram offered to quit his post in the wake of the Dantewada massacre by naxals, but Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday rejected his resignation.

Taking full responsibility, Mr. Chidambaram said that the buck stopped at his desk with regard to the Tuesday’s naxal attack.

“The Home Minister gave it (his resignation) in writing the day before yesterday. The Prime Minister rejected it,” a PMO spokesman said.

 

[brahmastra]

best home minister congress can offer to us.
1) Chidambaram
2) PranavDa

 

[Nemesis]

A move to garner sympathy and move the spotlight away from the Maoist attack.....He's feeling the heat apparently.

 

[Spring Onion]

And the reseignation is rejected/not accepted so end of the news.

Now Chidambaram start working to find out where fault lies

 

[indopak]

BJP backs Chidambaram, asks him not to retreat

NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday said it supported home minister P Chidambaram and asked him not to be seen to be retreating as any such move would mean that the Maoist guerrillas would "hail it as their victory".

"Chidambaram deserves the support of the government, the support of all political parties," BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy told reporters amid reports that the home minister had offered to resign following the massacre of 76 security men in Chhattisgarh on Tuesday.

Rudy said the BJP had made no demand for the resignation of the home minister.

"We would like to speak clearly about it. We are not agreeable that Chidambaram should quit. The Maoists will hail it as their victory."

The BJP leader said the home minister "cannot be seen as retreating". "We expect him to face the situation boldly. We cannot see the country standing defeated by Maoists."

Asking Chidambaram "not to make confessional statements", the BJP leader said: "He should make aspirational statements to boost the morale of the security forces. The BJP will support all the endeavours of the government in its battle to finish the Leftist rebels."

Rudy said the home minister had become the victim of his own "the buck stops" idiom.

Chidambaram at a CRPF function earlier in the day had said he accepted "full responsibility" for the Chhattisgarh massacre and said that the "buck stops at my desk".

The home minister had used the "buck stops" phrase earlier to criticise West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.