Facing flak from all political quarters for extending his stay abroad when India had seen one of the worst Maoist carnages, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde was on the back foot before the media on his return to Delhi on Thursday.
He explained that he stayed back in the US till May 29 for an appointment with an eye specialist. The Minister clarified to mediapersons that his late departure was inevitable. “The doctor was in Malaysia and he reached only on May 29,” he added.
The Home Minister was also at pains to point out that he had taken permission for extending his trip.
He said he led the delegation to the US at the invitation of the Internal Homeland Security Minister from May 19-23. While other delegates returned to Mumbai on May 23, Shinde stayed back even after the Naxal ambush on a Congress convoy in Chhattisgarh, which left 28 persons dead.
When asked why he didn’t take care to at least issue a statement, Shinde remained defiant. “There was no need for me to issue a statement because I was in touch with the Minister of State for Home (RPN Singh),” he pointed out.
Shinde belatedly condemned the inhuman killing of innocent leaders in Chhattisgarh, saying, “It is an attack on our democracy.” He added that full protection would be extended to politicians working in Naxal-affected States and that he would visit Chhattisgarh on Friday.