Is Home Minister Shinde fit to ensure country's internal security?

New Delhi: Is Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, who has been suffering from a foot-in-the-mouth disease since he took over the job, fit to be the in-charge of the internal security in the country? In the summer of 2012, Parliament went powerless, and that was how the country got introduced to Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde. And soon, India got its Union Home Minister in him. He has also been known for his gift of gaffes.

One of his recent statements was concerning Hindu terrorism. In a statement in Jaipur, Shinde had accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of running "Hindu terror camps". The statement earned Shinde the wrath of the saffron outfits, and the Home Minister had to express regret for the comment to avoid a showdown in Parliament.

When asked about Shinde being the Home Minister, BJP leader Chandan Mitra said, "He is unfit to be India's Home Minister." Even his party colleague, Congress MP Harish Rawat had criticised Shinde's statement.

Shinde might be an affable politician, but can ordinary Indians really expect him to ensure their security?

Another occasion where Shinde had his foot in the mouth was when he passed a comment on Rajya Sabha MP and actor Jaya Bachchan. He had told Bachchan to keep shut on an issue, saying it was a serious one and not of filmy nature. However, Shinde had to later apologise for the same.

He had also come under fire for equating anti-rape protestors at India Gate with Maoists. Speaking to IBN18 Editor-in-Chief Rajdeep Sardesai, Shinde had said, "As a Home Minister I can't engage with anyone protesting...tomorrow if Maoists come and protest at India Gate, I can't go and engage with them."

Incidentally, Shinde was shifted from Power Ministry to Home Ministry on the day the country witnessed its worst ever blackout in history. On another occasion, while the government was struggling to contain the coalgate fallout, Shinde at a public function said just as bofors, coalgate would be forgotten soon.

Shinde might be an affable politician, but can ordinary Indians really expect him to ensure their security?

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