Home Minister Shinde back in India 5 days after Chhattisgarh attack

Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde has returned to India from the United States. Shinde was on an official visit to the US along with a delegation of officials was the subject of controversy when he did not immediately  return after the Chhattisgarh attack, that wiped out the state Congress leadership. The Home Minister left New Delhi on 19 May to attend the Indo-US Homeland Security dialogue and was reportedly sheduled to return back to India on 29 May. [caption id=“attachment_827979” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde. Reuters[/caption] Except Shinde, all other members of the Indian delegation who went to the US to take part in the 20-22 May bilateral meetings returned home. Sources told PTI that the Home Minister stayed back in the US after 22 May for private purposes and there was no official engagements to attend. Congress party spokesperson Bhaktacharan Das had expressed his displeasure on Shinde’s absence. “No tour could be important” at this juncture, he told reporters replying to a volley of questions whether it was proper for Shinde to be away in the US in the wake of such a situation at home. At the same time, Das said there was no need to make the absence of the Home Minister a political issue as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had himself visited Chhattisgarh after the incident and Minister of state for Home RPN Singh was at hand with “full powers”. Minister of State Home Affairs RPN Singh, however, said Shinde was in constant touch with him and officials including Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh. “Shinde is in constant touch with the ministry and with me… he has been hands on… he will be back shortly,” Singh had said. After the Chhattisgarh attack, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde speaking to PTI from New York said, “I have spoken to Raman Singh and he has agreed for probe by NIA and he has agreed to the probe by the central agency.” Shinde said he has asked Union Home Secretary R K Singh to proceed accordingly in the matter. Shinde said he has briefed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh about the decision to hand over the investigation to NIA. With PTI inputs