Published: Tuesday, Apr 13, 2010, 1:15 IST
By Harish Gupta | Place: New Delhi | Agency: DNA
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_prime-minister-makes-chidambaram-sole-voice-on-maoists_1370700
Before his departure to the United States, prime minister Manmohan Singh not only rejected the resignation of P Chidambaram but also promised to silence all his ministerial colleagues and other officials so that they do not air discordant notes on Left-wing extremism.
In order to mollify Chidambaram, Singh summoned cabinet secretary KM Chandrasekhar and asked him to send a formal letter to all Union ministers asking them not to criticise the handling of the Maoists issue by the home ministry in public.
DNA has accessed a copy of the letter (see box) written by the cabinet secretary to all ministers dated April 10 — the day Singh left on his eight-day trip to the US.
The cabinet secretary made it clear to all Union ministers that “in all matters related to Left-wing extremism, including the recent Dantewada incident, the ministry of home affairs will be the nodal ministry for interaction with media and articulation of government position”.
The need to write this letter arose as not only some of the Union ministers but also the chief of army staff and the air chief had publicly differed with Chidambaram on the issue.
The home minister was already under attack after the massacre of 76 security personnel at Dantewada and this public criticism compromised his position in his fight against Maoists.
Railway minister Mamata Banerjee and Union minister for food processing Subodh Kant Sahay had also commented on the Dantewada massacre.
