Home Minister P Chidambaram offered his resignation from the government in writing to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh a day after the Naxalite attack in Dantewada, but Singh turned it down.
The Prime Minister’s Office confirmed the development through its spokesperson.
The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), too, said there was no call for the home minister to quit. “The BJP would no way demand or agree to the resignation of the home minister, nor heed his offer to resign as doing so would undoubtedly be hailed as a Naxalite victory. The home minister of India is entrusted with the nation’s security and can’t whimper like an injured retreating soldier on the backfoot,” said party spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy, a day after its officebearers had their first meeting under new President Nitin Gadkari.
The ghost of his own words returned to haunt the home minister and he referred to it. At a CRPF function this morning, Chidambaram said: “I have been asked directly or indirectly where the buck stops for what happened in Dantewada. I have no hesitation saying the buck stops at my desk. I accept full responsibility for what happened in Dantewada.” When the minister had gone to West Bengal, he was criticised by the CPI(M)-led Left Front government for telling West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee that “the buck stops with you” on ending political violence in the state. Chidambaram is believed to have conveyed his offer to quit to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, but this could not be confirmed.
Speaking at the ‘Valour Day’ function of CRPF, the home minister said that on Wednesday immediately on his return from Dantewada in Chhattisgarh, where 76 CRPF personnel were killed by Naxalites, he called on the Prime Minister and gave him in writing that “I accept full responsibility for what happened (in Dantewada)”.
He added: “And I think I will stop there. Let me not elaborate.” Reporters in the home ministry got no confirmation despite persistent queries whether he had offered resignation in the wake of speculation triggered by his morning speech.
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Moments later the PMO announced that the Prime Minister had rejected Chidambaram’s resignation. The Congress upheld Chidambaram’s gesture. “The statement by Chidambaram to the Prime Minister owning full moral responsibility does not need to be commented upon. It is appreciated and commended,” party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi told reporters here.
In private, senior ministers said there was appreciation for his role as home minister. Top sources said that during the formation of the second UPA Cabinet, it was suggested to Sonia Gandhi that another senior leader be made home minister. But Sonia was advised by Pranab Mukherjee and A K Antony to retain Chidambaram. “He is doing a fine job. If you replace him it will send a wrong signal,” the senior leaders told the Congress president.