Nationalist Congress Party leader R.R. Patil, who was forced to quit as deputy chief minister following the 26/11 attacks less than a year ago, is back as Home Minister.
Patil who returned to the Cabinet on Saturday, was handpicked by NCP president Sharad Pawar. Though expected, the appointment comes just 16 days before the first anniversary of the attacks.
The move has brought the Congress-NCP government under severe criticism from the Opposition BJP-Shiv Sena combine.
“It seems the government has bestowed an award on Patil for his deeds. The government should have had some sense before appointing the same person to head the home ministry under whose leadership the 26/11 terror attack had occurred,” state BJP chief Nitin Gadkari said.
The Sena said the government had taken the people’s wishes for granted. “It is an insult to all those who died in the terror attack. It looks like that the government is honouring the dead policemen for performing their duty on the occasion
of one year of the incident,” Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said.
Patil had quit under pressure following public anger over the state’s failure to prevent the attacks.
The NCP leadership seems to have rewarded Patil for his ‘sacrifice’ to save the party from public criticism.
Chief Minister Ashok Chavan will head the urban development department, while his deputy Chhagan Bhujbal will continue with public works.
The NCP leadership seems to have rewarded Patil for his ‘sacrifice’ to save the party from public criticism.
Chief Minister Ashok Chavan will head the urban development department, while his deputy Chhagan Bhujbal will continue with public works.
NCP minister Sunil Tatkare will be the new finance minister while Congress heavyweight Narayan Rane has bagged the crucial revenue department.