Tremors after the Quake

Tremors are still felt here in India even as the worst terrorist attack of the country has ended about 30 hours ago. Two key personalities in the union government has offered to leave the post while in Maharashtra, where actual drama took place, state government seems on its way to ouster.

Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil Chakurkar, who was often derided for his inaction and insensitive approach towards the law and order situation in the country, put in his papers today. Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, a trusted lieutenant of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, has been appointed Home Minister in his place.

Patil had drwan too much criticism for his handling of internal security matters, especially after blasts in Delhi, Banglore and Surat. Chidambaram, 63, had briefly served as Minister of Internal Security under late Rajiv Gandhi in late 1980. But his prime credentials lie in Finance Ministry having consistently given balanced budgets.

Prime Minister will himself look after the Finance portfolio now even as the country is suffering from the ripple effects of the global recession. That way, Singh is returning to original ministry after 12 years. He had held the Finance portfolio for five years under late P.V. Narasimha Rao.

The appointment also came hours before the start of the all-party meeting convened by the Prime Minister to discuss the Mumbai attacks and evolve a consensus on how to combat terror.

Meanwhile, National Security Advisor M. K. Narayanan has offered his resignation also owing to the moral responsibility. There are conflicting reports as to whether his resignation has been accepted or not.

In the light of these developments, call are given for the resignation of Maharashtra Home Minister R. R. Patil for his failure to control the situation. Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh is also under threat as pressure has been rising for him to vacate his place. The terrible episode and carnage on one hand, local media today is beaming the reports of how Deshmukh visited Hotel Taj with his actor son Ritesh and movie producer Ram Gopal Verma.
Patil had a meeting with Deshmukh today in afternoon. After the meeting, he refused to put in his paper. "When Akshardham was attacked, the Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi did not resign and when the Parliament was attacked the then Union Home Minister L K Advani did not resign. Then why should I resign after the Mumbai attack? What morality is BJP talking about," Patil was shoen asking in front of news channels camera. But we, in media, are guessing that he will be ordered to abdicate his chair in a couple of days. Keeping in view nature of Sharad Pawar of Nationalist Congress Party, whom Patil follows, it is an obvious guess.