Chidambaram and amit shah controversy: The interesting example of how the wheel of time revolves in Indian politics is P. Chidambaram, the senior Congress leader. At one time, while being the home minister of the country, he had to spend one night as a prisoner who had inaugurated the CBI Headquarters Bhavan, which he became a symbol of the irony of politics.
From Amit Shah’s arrest to his arrest
In 2011, when Chidambaram was the Home Minister, he arrested Amit Shah, the then Chief Minister of Gujarat, in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case. But years later, when Amit Shah became the home minister of the country, the CBI took P. Chidambaram into custody in the INX Media scam. Many political analysts described the development as a form of ‘political revenge’, especially when Amit Shah once faced Chidambaram’s action. Chidbaram did not stop here, but he also tried to implicate Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
‘Saffron Terrorism’ comment became a national controversy
While being a Home Minister, Chidambaram was engulfed in controversies when he connected some terrorist incidents with Hindutva organizations using the word ‘saffron terrorism’. In a conference on terrorism in 2010, he said that a new trend has come out from recent investigations- saffron terrorism. BJP and Sangh Parivar reacted sharply to this statement. The Congress also had to handle the situation and the then senior leader Janardan Dwivedi gave a clarification that there is no color of terrorism.
INX media case had become the reason for arrest
INX Media Foreign Funding Case became the mainstay of Chidambaram’s arrest. In 2007, he allegedly approved foreign investment of Rs 305 crore as Finance Minister, which led to irregularities. INX media owners Peter and Indrani Mukherjee later alleged that he had bribed Chidambaram’s son Karti Chidambaram for legal relief, which was stated to be around Rs 10 lakh. Apart from this, Chidambaram was also accused in the Aircel-Maxis deal, and the ED and CBI raided his premises.
Questions raised on tenure as Home Minister
After the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, when he was given the responsibility of the Ministry of Home Affairs, he had many expectations. But human rights organizations and some sections of the Muslim community accused him of taking bias and rigorous stance. In many cases, after the arrest of innocent Muslim youths, his image became as a rigorous and egoistic Home Minister.
Long experience of politics and administration
P. Chidambaram took a step in politics in 1972 with membership of the All India Congress Committee (AICC). He became the President of Youth Congress in 1973 and reached Parliament in 1984 after winning the Lok Sabha elections from Sivaganga seat in Tamil Nadu. He was a six -time Lok Sabha MP in his career. He worked in the Ministries of Commerce, Finance, Home, Internal Security and Personnel. His ‘Dream Budget’ of 1996 is still considered a significant turn in Indian economic history.
Travel of power, struggle and politics
P. Chidambaram’s story symbolizes the journey from the peak of power to the decline in Indian politics. A leader who took strict decisions from financial reforms to terrorism, but later came on target by getting entangled in disputes, legal matters and differences within the party.