Two Patil heads rolled after 26/11,one defends the other

Former Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil praised R R Patil as a 'young' and 'enthusiastic' man who did all 'he could have done' during his time in office.

A day after RR Patil returned as Maharashtra Home Minister,former Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil praised him as a young and enthusiastic man who did all he could have done during his time in office.

Faced with a firestorm of outrage following the Mumbai terror attacks,Shivraj Patil resigned on November 30,2008. RR Patil,52,followed on December 1,after having said only a day earlier that there was no possibility of his resigning. RR Patil had drawn flak for having said of the attacks,In a big city like Mumbai,the odd tragedy keeps happening.

He RR Patil had resigned because in the given political situation,because of public opinion,the government thought it would be better if he was not there. So,you cannot hold the minister or the government responsible for an incident. You should consider in totality the performance of a minister or a government to come to any conclusion, Shivraj Patil told The Indian Express on Monday.

In my opinion,RR Patil is a young,educated,and enthusiastic man with a clean image. As home minister,he had done what a home minister could have done in Maharashtra. One incident apart,his performance was good. I am sure he would strengthen the security apparatus to provide better security to the state, said Shivraj Patil.

Asked if the results of the Maharashtra Assembly elections had called into question the general impression about the impact of terrorism on electoral outcomes,Shivraj Patil said people make assessments in totality and come to correct conclusions.

Terrorism is creating terror in the minds of people8230; We should see to it that people are not frightened,but are emboldened to control it and counter it with the help of government machinery. People are wise enough to assess incidents in totality and come to correct conclusions. It would be wrong to say that terror incidents do not have an impact on elections,but it would also be wrong to say that such incidents alone decide the views of people in matters relating to elections.

The Congress too justified RR Patils return. RR Patil had not beenpersonally responsible for 26/11,party spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi said,adding that Patil had tendered his resignation on moral grounds.

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Asked if this meant Shivraj Patil too could be brought back as Union Home Minister,Singhvi said,Dont connect the unconnectable.

The return of the Congress-NCP to power showed voters were satisfied with the governments sincerity and intent,the spokesman said. People understand the events that are beyond the governments control. They dont hold the government responsible for such things,but see how the government had taken steps to counter the situation.