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This is an archive article published on June 3, 2009

Lucky to get a Cabinet berth after 26/11: Deshmukh

After facing flak over 26/11 attacks and having to resign,former Maharashtra CM Vilasrao Deshmukh said he has been really 'lucky' to have been offered a position in Union Cabinet.

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After facing flak from angry citizens over the 26/11 attacks and having to resign,former Maharashtra chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh on Tuesday said he has been really lucky to have been offered a position in the Union Cabinet and made Minister of Heavy Industries.

Speaking for the first time in the ongoing Assembly session after being appointed a Union Minister,Deshmukh said he has always been lucky in the 20 years of his political career. Even after such a big incident I had to resign8230; and people were wondering how I got the ministerial berth8230; It has been a tradition of the party to take moral responsibility and I did just that, he said, snubbing his critics.

He thanked Congress president Sonia Gandhi for taking cognizance of his action in the wake of the 26/11 terror attacks and rewarding him with a position at the Centre.

Deshmukh,who was the chief minister of Maharashtra when terrorists attacked Mumbai and held citizens hostage for over 60 hours,was criticised by people for his inefficiency in tackling the crisis. The situation worsened when Deshmukh toured the Taj Hotel with film director Ram Gopal Varma and actor son Riteish in tow. The fiasco caused outrage among people who demanded the CMs resignation. After much deliberation,Deshmukh offered to put in his papers along with home minister and deputy chief minister R R Patil.

Although critics believed his political career was over,Deshmukh proved them wrong as his party offered him a Cabinet berth at the Centre following the Lok Sabha elections.

 

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