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Sunday, July 25, 2010

cover story: p. chidambaram The Flint In The Mosaic

cover story: p. chidambaram
Even in the malleable worldview of the UPA, one man causes unease
Saba Naqvi
Magazine | Aug 02, 2010

The goof-ups
Expectations were sky-high when P. Chidambaram took over from Shivraj Patil against the dark backdrop of 26/11. But...
Pranay Sharma, Smruti Koppikar, Saikat Datta, Madhavi Tata, Saba Naqvi
Magazine | Aug 02, 2010
kashmir
Random violence and humiliation are stoking a new anger in Kashmiri youth against Indian oppression, renewing the call for azadi
Saba Naqvi, Showkat A. Motta
Magazine | Jul 26, 2010
SOCIETY
The Hindu majority has a blind spot for terror among its own
Saba Naqvi, Smruti Koppikar
Magazine | Jul 19, 2010
price rise
Despite the pain, why is people's protest so muted and netagiri so low-key on price rise?
Saba Naqvi, Anuradha Raman, Snigdha Hasan, Dola Mitra, John Mary, Pushpa Iyengar, Sharat Pradhan, Madhavi Tata
Magazine | Jul 12, 2010
interview
"Someone needs to tell the Planning Commission that unskilled farm labour can't find work in call centres."
Saba Naqvi
Magazine | Jul 12, 2010
congress: gandhis
As always, the Congress closes ranks but was Rajiv really out of the loop on Bhopal?
Saba Naqvi
Magazine | Jul 05, 2010
bihar: Nitish-BJP rift
Will a resurgent Nitish make Modi cause celebre for a break-up?
Saba Naqvi
Magazine | Jun 28, 2010
congress
The famed Congress dualism appears in its anti-Maoist policy too
Saba Naqvi
Magazine | May 31, 2010
interview
Chhattisgarh's first Chief Minister on the Congress line on how to deal with the Maoists
Saba Naqvi http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?266361

Where The Buck Stops

  • Bright, cogent and articulate, thinks in paragraphs; made for TV
  • Immaculate in his understanding of issues; meticulous in his ministerial demeanour; brisk despite his 65 years
  • Proactive approach, unlike predecessor Shivraj Patil, that has seen near-zero terror strikes since 26/11
  • Appeals to urban, English middle-class audiences who want "action"
  • Handles complex issues like relief package for Bhopal victims with ease

***

And Where It Doesn't

  • Seen by colleagues, compatriots as intellectually superior but arrogant, with an eye on the main chance
  • Congress tongues wag at his political detour to Tamil Maanila Congress and the support he elicits from BJP
  • "My way or the highway" attitude on issues like Naxalism and Chinese security fears etc sparks rows with ministerial colleagues
  • Cultivates sections of Delhi media to get home ministry message across, often at odds with party and/or government policy
  • Shadow of his past association with controversial mining company Vedanta as a lawyer/board director hangs over "Operation Greenhunt"

***

Palaniappan Chidambaram sure has a sense of humour. The day after the Indo-Pak talks in  Islamabad were derailed over home secretary G.K. Pillai's "ISI behind 26/11" comment, some journalists asked the Union home minister if he would be pulling up his top bureaucrat. "There is no need for that," Chidambaram reportedly quipped, "the Pakistanis have already fired him!" In his lighter moments, PC is also known to be an excellent mimic of the mannerisms and speech of some individuals from across the border.


The PM and Sonia have so far let him be himself. Photograph by AFP (From Outlook, August 02, 2010)

Make no mistake. Chidambaram is bright, savvy, energetic, efficient and, in one-on-one meetings, among the most impressive personalities in the UPA government. When he took over from Shivraj Patil, the veshti-wearing PC was seen as a big improvement over his sartorially obsessed predecessor. A year and a half later, however, he has become a tall magnet of non-stop controversy—attracting jibes from partymen, getting into turf battles with cabinet colleagues, even slamming "civil society" when it does not play along.

 

 

The home minister has several admirers in the BJP. Is he the right man in the wrong party?
 

 
Then there is the attack from within the Congress, where many see his approach to the Maoist problem as being out of sync with the party's humane line, articulated by its president, Sonia Gandhi. Little wonder leaders seen as close to the Gandhis, like party general secretary Digvijay Singh, have no qualms about calling Chidambaram "intellectually arrogant"; why, they even stand by their labels months later, saying it's the "party view". Then there are PC's own hurriedly uttered sound bites on Kashmir and Telangana, and on terror attacks like the German Bakery blast in Pune, that come back to bite him at leisure. Add to this mix the many utterances of the loquacious home secretary that land the home ministry in row after row. Occasionally, Chidambaram has also had to clarify the meaning of his own remarks, usually made in the course of interviews to hand-picked TV anchors.

At the heart of Chidambaram's growing disconnect is the perception that he is playing his own tune in the orchestra that is the UPA, probably even to its detriment. That, and the whispers in the party that Chidambaram is beginning to stand a tad too right of the ideological pole that encompasses the Congress's fairly malleable ideology.

As minister of the "dream budget" of 1997, he was seen as unabashedly pro-business and adored by the captains of industry. As home minister in 2010, he is seen as a hawk who considers the human origins of certain problems only as an afterthought. Is he, therefore, the "right man in the wrong party", a tag that was once attached to Atal Behari Vajpayee? A senior Congress leader says that may be an overstatement, but yes, Chidambaram certainly stands to the right of the Congress line on several issues. In that case, why is he there? Because he is seen as more talented than the average politician and appeals to a middle-class constituency; and when it comes to forming a government, there is always a hunt for the talented few to man critical ministries, says the leader.

He has many critics in his own party. Indeed, this correspondent could not find a single Congress leader who spoke positively about him. But there are an equal number of admirers in the BJP. During a debate in the Rajya Sabha on the attack on the crpf in Chattisgarh, leader of the opposition Arun Jaitley concluded his speech by rhetorically asking Chidambaram, "We are willing to support you...is your party willing to support you?" It was to some extent a deliberate tactic by the opposition to show Chidambaram as different from others in his party. The BJP, after all, has seen its own middle-class constituency shrink, and Chidambaram appeals to precisely that audience. No-nonsense, articulate, tough on terror.

A senior BJP leader says Chidambaram has two big problems: "First, he has given too many interviews to select English TV channels. Second, he has ditched the Congress line on Maoist terror and follows a line that is closer to the BJP line." The question that may be asked is not whether Chidambaram is a closet BJP man in the Congress, but whether it is deliberate tactics for the Congress to be all things to all men; different strokes for different folks.

It is in the area of policy and political management, his presumed usp, that Chidambaram has run into his biggest controversies. For instance, many Congress leaders grumble off-the-record that he is largely responsible for the mess in Andhra Pradesh with his handling of the Telangana issue.

According to a well-placed Congress source, "Sonia Gandhi was opposed to giving in to the demand for a separate Telangana state. Chidambaram whipped out some Intelligence Bureau reports and told her there was information that there would be a bloodbath if the party did not support Telangana. So, in such haste, a great blunder was made that will eventually bring down our strength in Andhra Pradesh."

Chidambaram is one of the country's top lawyers. Many rank him as the best among the legal luminaries in the Congress. A Congress leader says that perhaps he sees every problem as a legal brief that must be prepared quickly and efficiently but this does not make for good politics. But give him an issue like handling the GoM on Bhopal and by most accounts he did a thorough job. Similarly, when the Liberhans commission report was finally tabled in Parliament in December last year, Chidambaram stood for over one and a half hours and read out a reply at the end of the debate even as he was being pelted with paper pellets and the opposition ruckus drowned out his speech.

This was one instance when the BJP did not express admiration for him. In the course of that debate, Chidambaram invoked the idea of India to question the Sangh parivar and BJP's Hindutva-driven temple politics and said: "People rejected your idea of India for our idea of India."

 

 

When I heard Azad had been killed, I could not help thinking he was tracked through contact with me. But I trust the home minister's written word that he wants to talk to the Maoists.—Swami Agnivesh
 

 
It is, however, his handling of Maoist extremism that remains the most controversial. A new controversy has emerged with the killing of Maoist leader and spokesperson Chemkuri Azad Rajkumar under controversial circumstances by the Andhra Pradesh police on July 2. Swami Agnivesh produces a letter written by Chidambaram dated May 11 that requested him to open channels of communication with the Maoists and ask them for a 72-hour ceasefire. Just days before he was killed, Azad had replied agreeing in principle to a ceasefire, although he laid down conditions. Now Swami Agnivesh says "when I heard he was killed, I could not help thinking it was because of his contact with me that he was tracked." He shared this with Chidambaram, who refused a judicial inquiry into Azad's death but said he "was sorry" about him feeling responsible. Says Swami Agnivesh: "I asked him how the police could have killed Azad without your knowledge when we are negotiating with the same man. Chidambaram said he did not know about it and Azad was already wanted by the Andhra Pradesh police for three murders and carried a reward on his head."

Later, Swami Agnivesh met the prime minister. "The PM promised to look into the circumstances leading to Azad's death, an event that has come as a blow to the talks between the Maoists and the Centre. The PM was most sympathetic," says the Swami. So, is Swami Agnivesh suggesting that he does not trust Chidambaram and was used by him to track the top leadership of the Maoists? "No, not at all. He is the home minister and I trust his written word that he would like to engage in a dialogue with the Maoists. It is the first time a home minister has made such an offer. But if an inquiry into Azad's death is not done in a credible manner, all efforts to find a solution will be lost," he says.

There is, of course, an increasingly strong point of view in the security establishment that you don't talk to Maoists, you simply kill them. Similarly, you don't talk to Pakistan, you persistently fight it in every forum and ram home the point that the Pakistani state and ISI sponsor terrorism. Depending on whether one is a hawk or a liberal, home secretary Pillai's statement, on the eve of Indo-Pak talks, is seen either as just a reflection of that truth or a direct act of sabotage.

 

 

The man is in conflict with far too many of his colleagues. That is part of his burden.
 

 
The relevant point that some commentators have made is that Pillai never said anything of the sort when his own minister visited Pakistan last month, when the same body of information was available. Many political observers also suggest that Pillai could not have made such a statement without Chidambaram's knowledge. Certainly, the entire visit of foreign minister S.M. Krishna was torpedoed by Pillai's  utterance. The fact that Krishna subsequently spoke against Pillai's remarks and called the timing unfortunate is seen as significant. It is believed that this would only have happened with the endorsement of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is keen on an India-Pakistan track. Last week, the home ministry appointed a spokesperson, presumably with the idea of putting a stop to undiplomatic remarks.

But at times it is Chidambaram the minister, a man generally known to be in command of his words, who stirs a controversy. In the context of Maoism again, he famously said in the course of a TV interview that he had a "limited mandate". Was he suggesting greater fire power? Perhaps direct engagement by the army? Chidambaram had to clarify at that point that law and order was a state subject and thus he had a limited role to play. That prompted critics to argue that if that was so, was it good tactics for him to project himself as the face against Maoists? Incidentally, after Azad's death and fresh threats from the Maoists, the home minister's security was upgraded last week.

Similarly, when the latest round of trouble began in Kashmir, Chidambaram was quoted as saying that the Lashkar-e-Toiba was possibly behind it. No one in Kashmir suggests the involvement of the LeT in what appears to be a spontaneous protest, although the possibility of the Lashkar fishing in troubled waters remains. Then again, on the issue of the Pune terror blasts, the home minister had said that one Abdul Samad was believed to be behind it; the young man was subsequently let off for lack of evidence.

What has also added to Chidambaram's woes is the perception that with a hawkish internal security line, he is in conflict with too many of his colleagues. On the issue of the caste census, Chidambaram leads those opposed to it. He has reportedly advocated that the air force help in fighting the Maoists; defence minister A.K. Antony is opposed to it. Chidambaram is for a ban on Chinese telcos, citing security concerns; environment minister Jairam Ramesh calls this alarmist. S.M. Krishna has tried to simplify the issuing of passports but the home ministry has refused to simplify the process from the angle of police and scrutiny of applicants.

Security, terrorism, talks with Pakistan are all volatile issues that determine ideological and political faultlines in our country. In a recent interview, when asked about the continued criticism of his anti-Maoist policy by Digvijay Singh, the home minister said he will be "the happiest person if someone can do the job better". Even that half-despairing riposte, perhaps, reveals the supreme arrogance of the man who also famously reminded the nation that "the buck stops here".

cover story: p. chidambaram
Two research scholars at JNU manage to ask the home minister some uncomfortable questions
Anuradha Raman

The goof-ups
Expectations were sky-high when P. Chidambaram took over from Shivraj Patil against the dark backdrop of 26/11. But...
Pranay Sharma, Smruti Koppikar, Saikat Datta, Madhavi Tata, Saba Naqvi



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Jul 25, 2010 01:14 PM
33
Manish Banerjee/Suryakanth Sharma,

we must marvel at how you Bengalis revel in self-deception and wallow in Maoist/leftist ideological fixations. The BJP would be too happy to see the back of Chidambaram, for then this UPA will be rid of any pretensions to proacive management of the home portfolio. It is an undeniable fact that there is nobody of equal merit in the congress party to replace him. People like Mani Shankar Aiyar and Dig, dig Vijay Singh can only work as dissenters and apologists for the Maoists and terrorists.

It is clear that the congress presidente and her cohorts only want a yes man/weakling (even an effete, effeminate Shivraj Patil would do well for them) for a home minister, which Chi...apparently is not. He also seems to have outgrown his shoes, which is why a very well thought out campaign has been launched through the self serving and subservient media to dislodge him from his seat. It is the need of the hour for this blog to discuss this point than about his winning with a narrow margin and his perceived arrogance.
bvshenoy
Bangalore, India
Jul 25, 2010 12:09 PM
32
Chidambaram should make reforming the law enforcement agencies his top priority; then will only he will succeed in tackling insurgent groups across the country.

Indian Police is notoriously corrupt, specially it's leadership. After a few set-backs media is now coming up with conditions of the simple jawans on the ground, which is appalling. Indian police top brass need be there in the forefront & be enforce the law of the land for all instead for a priviledged few. Even-handedness should be the battle-cry.

Media, after a few set-backs are now coming out with stories of the CRPF jawans on the ground. One & all, it's a story of a demoralised force poorly lead by sel-serving officers who mostly are absentee chiefs, busy oiling their own machine from comforts of their head-quarters. For the life me , I do not understand why whole battallions will busy themself clearing roads for visit of self-importanat police high-up. He should have been there in the first place to see the roads reamain clear.

Chidambaram will not make any headway with this police leadership.He seems to be receiving advice from the same set. That has to change to begin with.
MANISH BANERJEE
KOLKATA, India
Jul 25, 2010 11:35 AM
31
>Not media savvy fly by night operators like PC.

'Media savy' is O.K. But surely not 'fly by night'. P.C is all over the place since time one can remember, the interrogenum of Tamil Manila Congress excepted. That is one reason for surprise that he took such a narrow & rigid view of the major problems facing him.
MANISH BANERJEE
KOLKATA, India
Jul 25, 2010 11:33 AM
30
Surya Sharma of Kolkata, I am very glad to meet a fellow Maoist. We Maoists need to brainstorm on the best way forward. One can't make an omlette without breaking some eggs. We have been raping, torturing, burning people alive, eating people (literally cannibalism). Still we do not have enough support from the proletariat. How would you suggest we increase the terror?
Akram Haidar
somecity, India
Jul 25, 2010 11:14 AM
29
Reason media extols and then deride Chidambaram as intellectual arrogant is only due to his privileged background. Fact, on the other hand, otherwise, that he is spectacular failure as home minister. He wedged war against Maoists but they only gained strength.

Country needs result oriented person with base among people as minister. Not media savvy fly by night operators like PC.
Rajesh
Phoenix, United States
Jul 25, 2010 10:10 AM
28
A scion of rich southern Chettieir clan , Chidambaram was born with a silver spoon in the mouth. He never had a mass base nor ever has any idea what India looks like outside those thickly bound Indian Law Journals & business chamber pulpits. He escaped loosing the last parlialmentary election by a whisker. Darling of copporate India he has been a permament fixture in Delhi's power corridor & a TV producer's delight. The much touted dream budget is all about opening up the fiscal world for corporate free for all.

Without mass contact & idea of realities of Bharat below poverty line , he took a simplistic overview of the Maoists problem & ended up making an already bad situation worse. He thuoght the badlands of Dantewara needs a cut & dry legalistic solution. That is not to be.

Mr.P.Chidambaram is sincere man of superb intelligence & above average erudition . His hands on approach to whatever he did in government is outcome of his sincere belief that he is doing the right thing. Intellectually superior men are prone to being intolerant to contrarion calls.

But in government that will not do. All said & done, India is not totally a law & order issue; law & order is secondary to across the board development issue. Inclusive development will reduce the problems of law order.

Chidambaram is too intelligent a man not see that, in retrospect, an overall course correction is called for in larger governance philosophy & he sure will use his clout & persuasive abilities to that end. A mature man on the wrong side of sixties & after a fulfilling life, one need not have seclective axe to grind.
MANISH BANERJEE
KOLKATA, India
Jul 25, 2010 09:41 AM
27
@Vivek

"PC is only asking the Maoists to come for talks."

So.. why was Azad killed when he was working towards talks with Swami Agnivesh mediating the process? He got Azad killed by luring him in the name of talks. Do you think the Maoists will trust the "talk process" of Chidambaram again? It did not serve any purpose because another guy will take Azad's place.
Surya Sharma
Kolkata, India
Jul 25, 2010 08:39 AM
26
vivek--"What if your spouse, sibling or parents or you are traveling in a train that will be sabotaged by Maoists. "

What if your spouse, sibling or child gets shot up by 'Security' forces or CRPF for no reason at all ? What would you do ? The very fact that PC has the exuberant support of the Saffron Brigade is reason enough to trash him. He must be doing or saying something wrong to garner this adulation !
Cata Maran
Soccer City, South Africa
Jul 25, 2010 05:20 AM
25
>> Surya Sharma
>> You don't get it. Chidambaram is creating Maoists through his thuggery. He is using his criminal police to rape, torture and kill tribals and that is feeding fuel to the fire.

I get it. You have no clue. You are rambling like a crazy man. It is not PC who has done this. This has been going on for decades. AP CM YSR sent police to kill hundreds of Maoists, their families and commit atrocities . CPM bozos use murder, rape and burn their political opponents. BJP Govt and CON party started Salwa Judum to kill/rape under the leadership of MMS/Sonia. The bozo dynasty and every political party did everything to obstruct Supreme Court directive to reform Police.

Supreme Court wanted Police reforms in 1996. Nothing happened.

http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 1 of 11
CASE NO.: Writ Petition (civil) 310 of 1996
PETITIONER: Prakash Singh & Ors
RESPONDENT: Union of India and Ors
DATE OF JUDGMENT: 22/09/2006
BENCH: Y.K. Sabharwal, C.K. Thakker & P.K. Balasubramanyan
JUDGMENT: J U D G M E N T Y.K. Sabharwal, CJI.

The bloody idiots like you are blaming PC. If nikkammas like you have any guts, go to the root cause: Sonia, RahulAdvani, MMS and the thugs who are looting and living in their own world dividing India on communal and caste basis.

>>If he really was a nationalist, he would have tried to find a democratic and political solution instead of an autocratic barbaric military solution of death and destruction of human lives. I pray that someone does to his family what he has done to the families of thousands of tribals. You can't just kill families to steal their land and call yourself civilized. Its not about Maoism. Its about tribals. Either he does not get that or he is greedy murdering monster who does not mind killing the tribals to steal their for mining.

This is exactly what I am talking about. You are losing it or lost it. PC is only asking the Maoists to come for talks. Those ba$tards are blowing up trains, schools, buses, building arms factories, wroking with Islamic terrorists such as LET, Nepal Maoists, China to sabotage India. There are several ways to solve tribal grievances. If the Naxals have real interests of tribals on their mind, they would have negotiated for 10-20% of royalties for building houses, training and employment for tribals instead of murdering innocent civilians. Their ultimate aim is to establish a Pol Pot regime. The tribals are only the means to their end.
VIvek
Hyderabad, India
Jul 25, 2010 03:47 AM
24
Though PC is an intelligent leader. His motives are not fully above suspicison in the maoist case. Law and order is a state subject. Why is he getting involved in this?
He was a highly paid lawyer for vedanta.. Do their mines being in tribal lands have to do with his over zealousness.
Deepak
USA, India
Jul 25, 2010 03:31 AM
23
PC is not a Hindu communalist or Islamic fanatic.
His focus is his job. He wants to set up a system to clean Indian state of all terrorists (Muslim or Hindu), Chinese agents who want to destroy India to help China grow (Maoists). We need more people like him who can stand up for any terrorist from any religion or ideology. He was able to take a lot of preventive actions against Indian Mujahideen and under his effort, CBI made breakthroughs in catching the real culprits of Masjid blasts, fanatic Hindu groups instead of blaming this on Muslims. We need more PCs. We have to support him instead of the crooked dynasty and Nikkamma MMS who are trying to divide Indians on communal basis and trying to keep this corrupt Govt pass on the gaddi to Rahul Gandu!
VIvek
Hyderabad, India
Jul 25, 2010 03:28 AM
22
@VIvek Hyderabad, India

You don't get it. Chidambaram is creating Maoists through his thuggery. He is using his criminal police to rape, torture and kill tribals and that is feeding fuel to the fire. If he really was a nationalist, he would have tried to find a democratic and political solution instead of an autocratic barbaric military solution of death and destruction of human lives. I pray that someone does to his family what he has done to the families of thousands of tribals. You can't just kill families to steal their land and call yourself civilized. Its not about Maoism. Its about tribals. Either he does not get that or he is greedy murdering monster who does not mind killing the tribals to steal their for mining.
Surya Sharma
Kolkata, India
Jul 25, 2010 02:26 AM
21
A man who knows his mind and can stand his ground in Delhi's cacophony has to be admired. He is definitely Prime Minister material. Rahul could be Congress President.
Anwaar
Dallas, United States
Jul 25, 2010 01:42 AM
20
>> Ramesh Raghuvanshi
>> Chidambaram came from rich family, he is arrogant. He behave very ruffly with lower people and bow before higher people just like Sonia Gandhi.

Yeah... He may be arrogant. What do you care? Do you want Shivraj patil who has no clued while terrorists are blowing hundreds of people every week.

How would you feel if you or your family is blown into pieces because HM is loser and has no clue, very humble and cleans the feet of Sonia every day. Shivraj Patil was busy changing his suits every 1 hour for TV interviews after terrorist attacks. May be you would love to watch the suits but most Indians prefer PC, arrogant or not, take care of their families unlike you.
VIvek
Hyderabad, India
Jul 25, 2010 12:56 AM
19
>> Surya Sharma
>> Chidambaram is a thief working for Vedanta. He wants to steal tribal land for mining. The rest is hogwash. No wonder he is the blue-eyed boy of BJP. He is responsible for genocide of tribals. The SOB deserves a lead in the head.

What if your spouse, sibling or parents or you are traveling in a train that will be sabotaged by Maoists. How would you feel? Hopefully all you, your kith and kin will be saved by PC's strong measures. I am not sure if it is a good thing for India if you are one of those saved by PC.
VIvek
Hyderabad, India
Jul 25, 2010 12:16 AM
18
--"A man like him is a nightmare for the quintessential self-seeking Delhi based politician who hails from the North of the Vindhyas."

There is a whole lot of truth in this statement ! However i still think PC is a scum of the earth closet Sanghi. He conceals his right-wing instincts really well. He is as corrupt as they come (anybody in Chennai can confirm that !!) and ambitious enough to wallow in the waters of ideological hypocrisy.
Cata Maran
Soccer City, South Africa
Jul 24, 2010 11:35 PM
17
Chidambaram is a thief working for Vedanta. He wants to steal tribal land for mining. The rest is hogwash. No wonder he is the blue-eyed boy of BJP. He is responsible for genocide of tribals. The SOB deserves a lead in the head.
Surya Sharma
Kolkata, India
Jul 24, 2010 11:29 PM
16
A spineless HM who is not decisive will be a disaster for the country.A strong HM is the need of the hour. And Chidambaram fits the bill perfectly. The so called congress 'netas' want chamcha ministers who will analyse and paralyze every single decision under communal, caste lenses. And Chidambaram is not the typical 'analyze/paralyze' minister. There lies the problem!
Siva
Dallas, USA
Jul 24, 2010 10:48 PM
15
Not much in common between the Finance and Home Ministries, except their location in North Block. P. Chidambaram has made his mark in both of them. Crossing the road to South Block is, of course, a different ball-game.
ashok lal
mumbai, India
Jul 24, 2010 09:13 PM
14
It is true that Chidambaram has courted controversies, but that is only expected when a man with a definite agenda goes about his job and in the process ruffles some feathers. The article hardly reflects on the successes the Home Minister has had in quietening of the rebels in the North East, in eliciting exemplary co-operation from Bangladesh in having almost the entire top hierarchy of ULFA & NDFB arrested and handed over to India, or in opening peace negotiations with most groups after forcing cease-fires or surrenders. He is an intelligent, articulate and erudite man who has an incisive understanding of his brief. Also, he exudes the air of a Minister who is firmly in control. Contrast that to the image of SM Krishna who sat besides Shah Mahmood Qureshi with the look of a rebuked school kid during the joint press conference.
Nilim Dutta
Guwahati, India
Jul 24, 2010 08:58 PM
13
"Immaculate in his understanding of issues"

Is that a freaking joke?
Surya Sharma
Kolkata, India
Jul 24, 2010 08:36 PM
12
Chidambaram came from rich family, he is arrogant. He behave very ruffly with lower people and bow before higher people just like Sonia Gandhi. He is by nature narcissus.Narcissus's man love himself terrifically and look others contemptuously.He created many enemies in his party because of his arrogant behavour.Narcissus people behave this way.
Ramesh Raghuvanshi
Pune, India
Jul 24, 2010 07:24 PM
11
The point is if anybody tries to be proactive and take initiate, he is bound to be at odds with people who have view/agenda of their own. In this kind of setup only those with a family linage and blind following can be a leader, and rest will have to contend with being a follower.
Aseem Swarup Johri
Toronto, Canada
Jul 24, 2010 06:41 PM
10
Poorly researched and slanderous article.Use google news and intersperse information with statements like None of the Congress leader we spoke to had Anything positive to say(How many did you speak to?), "A senior BJP leader that we Spoke to","Well Placed source in the congress","he let speak as he wanted to be seen as a liberal"

Phew !Journalism seems so easy. Any vacancies in outlook?

It is the intellectual arrogance of the leftists, living on the doles from the exchequer and embeded in educational institutions, which is taking the country to the brink of Balkanization.
sudharshan
madras, india
Jul 24, 2010 06:26 PM
9
The traitors of India have become so bold under mafia rule that they are even openly publishing that being patriotic and doing right thing to protect India is criminal. Look who wrote this! Saba Naqvi, the first hand traitor who would like this country to be destroyed. What is Chidambaram's crime? He wants to protect India and fight for India. The aholes of Outlook have a problem with that. They are not even afraid to be openly traitorous.
VIvek
Hyderabad, India
Jul 24, 2010 06:11 PM
8
This is an eye opener article, which speaks about how journalism can play to make or dump a man. I hope the author or the editor are not able to accept the fact that Chidambaram has denied an interview to them and hence the article.

Well done Outlook.
Rahul
Mumbai, India
Jul 24, 2010 05:43 PM
7
It is clear from this article that Chidambaram is a threat to the low-IQ jholawallahs, also known as left-wing intellectuals in India, who have dominated public discourse for far too long. Chidambaram is not perfect, but if the JNU paper-tigers are getting all worked up about him, he must be doing something right!
Ankan Kumar
Columbus, USA
Jul 24, 2010 04:43 PM
6
" comes to forming a government, there is always a hunt for the talented few to man critical ministries, says the leader."

this is very revealing and tragically funny. The dynasty is smart enough to realise that it needs one or two people like PC. But not more than that. But its why this country will always remain sub-par.
MK Saini
Delhi, India
Jul 24, 2010 04:12 PM
5
This is a plain and simple case of palace intrigue. This is also a paid news(feature)ordered by 10 Janpath, paid for with a post dated cheque (dated 26th January, 2011)favouring Vinod Mehta with a promise of a padma award for services rendered to the palace (not to the country).

It is very clear that Sonia Gandhi is afraid for her son, the yuvaraj, for whom Manmohan Singh is keeping the chair hot. Now, Chidambaram has emerged as a clear and better alternative to MMS, which is a clear and present danger to the dynasty. Therefore, Chidambaramji, the knives are OUT for you. Take a rear view mirror with you wherever you go, for, there are enough number of palace guards waiting to plunge the knife in your back.

And apart from the palace guards, supari has ben given to OUTLOOK too to finish off the Home minister with kind words and killing intent.
bvshenoy
Bangalore, India
Jul 24, 2010 03:54 PM
4
"Chidambaram is like 'Chilly', which is extremely important for the Indian Cuisine to add savor, and has the ability to overshadow the flavor of every delicacy if added in excess."
Rajneesh Batra
New Delhi, India
Jul 24, 2010 03:14 PM
3
P.Chidambaram is an educated, well travelled, erudite and a free thinking South Indian. He doesn't toe anyone's line and calls a spade a spade. None of the above qualities are appreciated in the portals of the Indian Government in Delhi, particularly by the Congress. What happened to Sashi Tharoor is another case in point. P.V.Narasimha Rao is another example of a person with all the aforesaid qualities who was quite an effective prime minister, the only one from outside 'The Dynasty', who made it to the top spot in the Congress. Is there even a small memorial for him in Delhi, which teems with monuments for all sorts of nondescripts who did nothing for the country? P.Chidambaram should watch his back. A man like him is a nightmare for the quintessential self-seeking Delhi based politician who hails from the North of the Vindhyas.
G.Natrajan
Hyderabad, India
Jul 24, 2010 03:08 PM
2
Surely,this intelligent man will be prepared to work under the none too intelligent Rahul Gandhi,in the unfortunate event of the latter becoming the PM.In the last Lok Sabha election Chidambaram had almost lost,but miraculously went on to win by a narrow margin of three thousand votes.His political base is very narrow,as such his clout is limited.All said and done,he is sauve and urbane unlike that crude Mani Shankar Iyer.
S.S.Nagaraj
Bangalore, India
Jul 24, 2010 02:58 PM
1
After dumping Advani, the BJP is in a quandary. They do not have a leader - tall , short or fat. Modi is not an option for fear of being railroaded. Their hunt for a suitable leader may end up with Chidambaram.
MANISH BANERJEE
KOLKATA, India
--
Palash Biswas
Pl Read:
http://nandigramunited-banga.blogspot.com/

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