One of the biggest achievement of Modi government is the successful implementation of zero tolerance policy against terrorism. After 2014, the number of terror acts within the territory has come down drastically. Plus, the security agencies have been relentlessly pursuing strict actions against hard liners, radical Islamists and terror outfits.
With a resolute policy of disproportionate retaliation and pre-emptive strikes, India has secured its territorial sovereignty and lives of innocent citizens. To understand the gravity of the changed scenario, one can compare the administration’s response to the dastardly 26/11 terrorist attacks in Mumbai.
Congress number 2
In 2004, former Lok Sabha speaker and Senior Congress leader, Shivraj Patil lost his election from Latur constituency in Maharashtra. But somehow, he landed up getting the second most important position in Dr Manmohan Singh’s Cabinet, that is, the Home Ministry.
Under UPA administration, India was severely impacted by the menace of terrorism specially emanating from Pakistan. Due to the relentless onslaught of terrorism, Home Minister Shivraj Patil was under constant pressure to resign from his portfolio. He was widely seen as an ineffective minister.
His tenure in the Home Ministry was marred by repeated failure in safeguarding national sovereignty. He was at the helm of affairs in Home Ministry during the infamous 2006 Malegaon bombings.
Also Read: Tukaram Omble: The braveheart who prevented Congress from turning 26/11 into an Hindutva Conspiracy
On account of these failures in averting incessant terrorist attacks, Home Minister Patil was facing severe criticism but he continued as the Home Minister in UPA with no accountability for the failures. The Congress party and the Home Minister kept dodging the questions and allegations of incompetence without changing their failed ways.
He was also accused of not sending the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to Nandigram, even after getting repeated requests by the West Bengal government. The state government wanted additional deployment of CRPF to restore law and order in the area. Due to his ‘inaction’, the events turned ugly resulting in Police firing and killing of many people in Nandigram.
Losses during 26/11 could have been minimised
However, the gravest allegation of incompetence, ineptitude and even playing ugly politics came during the ghastly 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attack. Sitting at the helm in the Home Ministry, instead of giving a firm response to the terror attack, he was caught in controversies for doing complete opposite of the needful.
The National Security Guard (NSG) Commandos had quickly taken their positions in the aircraft meant to deploy them at the attack sites. But they were made to wait for Congress’ Home Minister Patil. It is alleged that on account of Shivraj Patil boarding the aircraft, the deployment of NSG on the attack sites in Mumbai got delayed.
Also Read: 26/11 was the day when Indian Media showed how low it can stoop
Reportedly, the Home Minister Patil was going to Mumbai on the same plane. Even when the plane took off from Chandigarh to Delhi it got delayed due to logistical constraints. It is hard to contemplate the exact delay but as a result of it the NSG team arrived almost 10 hours after the initial assaults by Pakistani terrorists had begun. By then, terrorists had occupied vantage points. They terrorised and killed innocent citizens and cops with impunity.
It was alleged that he had been changing clothes for public appearances at a time when the nation was under the most brutal and vicious terrorist attack. Due to these actions, he is compared to Nero. Nero was a Roman Emperor who is described as tyrannical, self-indulgent, and debauched. He played his fiddle while the entire Roman Empire was burning to ashes.
If the administrative and bureaucratic red tapism and sycophancy were avoided, NSG could have landed at the attack sites a few hours earlier. It would have drastically reduced casualty numbers.
Also Read: A ready list of the worst home ministers India ever had
Moreover, the apathy of UPA and then Home Minister Shivraj Patil towards NSG has been well documented. He was punished for his incompetence and tardy response to the 26/11 Mumbai attack. Apparently, removal/sacking was a rare feat in Congress regimes where corruption and lethargy were awarded.
The removal was glaringly obvious. The then US Ambassador David Mulford in an embassy cable described his removal after the Mumbai terrorist attack as inevitable and called him “inept” and “asleep on the watch”.
Quite interestingly, the veteran Congress leader willingly omitted this episode from his autobiography.
Also Read: Manish Tewari blames Congress for 26/11 in his book
The sheer failure in putting up a resolute response without wasting crucial time speaks volume of the incompetence and shoddy actions of the then Home Minister Shivraj Patil.
There is a saying that some individuals bring disrepute to the profession they work in. It aptly fits on Congress Shivraj Patil who disgraced the Home Ministry due to his inactions and incompetence. Today, the Congress leader has turned 87 years of age. He will always be counted among the worst Home Minister India ever got.
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