Shivraj Patil

Trivia

• On 30 November 2008 Shivraj Patil resigned from his position of Home Minister in Union Cabinet taking moral responsibility of the security lapse that lead to the November 2008 Terrorist attacks in Mumbai.
• Patil's name was considered a likely candidate in 2007 presidential election.
• A former Lok Sabha speaker, Shivraj Patil lost in the 2004 polls from Latur constituency in Maharashtra, but has still landed up the second most important position in the Union Cabinet -- that of the Home Minister. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha in July 2004.
• He became Home Minister in 2004.
• Between 1991-1995, he was a member / leader of Indian parliamentary delegations to various international parliamentary conferences.
• As speaker of the Lok Sabha, he had begun or contributed in initiatives on information dissemination to members of the Parliament (through computerisation and modernisation), construction of Parliament Library Building and broadcast of Loksabha proceedings, including live broadcast of Question Hour of both houses of the parliament.
• He was the chairman of the manifesto committee of the party during the 1999 Lok Sabha election.
• He has also held a number of important positions in the party ever since Sonia Gandhi took over the presidency of the party. He is largely known for introducing the The Outstanding Parliamentarian Award, India in 1995.
• In the Rajiv Gandhi government, he was Minister for Personnel, Defence production and later held independent charge of Civil Aviation and Tourism.
• He also served on various committees including those on Defence, External Affairs, Finance, Salaries and Allowances of Members of Parliament.

Quotes

• “A plan to protect passengers and railway property, often targeted by Maoist rebels, is underway.”
• “The home ministry has decided to introduce the bill and all her suggestions have been accepted.”
• “We have asked the police to furnish details on the loopholes.”
• “Many have pointed out the need for infusing young blood into the party and this idea is accepted by the session.”
• “I have read about 200-250 pages. I am still reading it.”
• “We have directed the security forces to step up the surveillance all over the country particularly in metro cities. The government would like to assure the public that it would take all precautionary measures to prevent reoccurrence of such bomb blasts,”
• “The morale of the people and the passengers appears to be high,”
• “We are not afraid of elections but we are not creating conditions for elections either, ... We are not pining for elections. Suppose people give the same kind of fractured verdict we will be back in the same situation.”
• “incompetence has been exposed several times.”
• “I appeal to the people to please go back to their families immediately. They will feel secure when they see their relatives,”