Chidambaram defers his US visit

Sources said Chidambaram’s presence in the country at this crucial time,when petrol pumps in many parts of the country,including the Capital,had gone dry because of the strike,was considered necessary by the Government. Chidambaram’s plans to visit the United States in relation to the Mumbai attack had initially caused some discomfiture in the South Block which had not properly assessed the impact this trip might have had at a time when the US administration was in the midst of transition.

However,sources pointed out that these fears were considered to be unfounded in view of the fact that this has been one of the most seamless transitions of power in the recent history of the United States. Obama has already made it clear that there could only be one President at a time,and therefore the possibility of his team getting irked by Chidambaram’s visit was remote.