The late Delhi CM on why she took the Nirbhaya blame on the chin
That December Heat
SHEILA DIKSHIT 1938-2019
O
NCE upon a time, there were rumours that I might
get a berth in the Union cabinet. Some senior leaders
even indicated the home portfolio, but I dismissed
such talk, as I had no official communication to the
effect. A long meeting in July 2012 with Mrs Sonia
Gandhi had the rumour mills churning.
I was looking for something new, a larger canvas
perhaps. At that juncture, I did feel I could have been
of greater use at the Centre than as Delhi CM. In fact,
the inadequate political management of the crises
faced by UPA-2 reminded me of the time when the
Rajiv Gandhi government too had not been able to
politically manage the fallout of the Bofors crisis.
However, it was the then power minister, Sushil
Kumar Shinde, who was moved to the home ministry.The fact that his elevation, which was perceived as a reward,
came on the heels of a blackout in large parts of India in the
second half of 2012, further dented the image of the Congress.
As the winter of 2012 approached, I was overcome with fatigue
and bouts of breathlessness. The doctors confirmed a 90 per
cent blockage in my right coronary artery, and I un-
derwent my second angioplasty after 2006.
I felt it was time for me to step away from electoral
politics. My family told me in no uncertain terms
that I needed to put health concerns before
everything else. My decision to resign was almost
certain. Moreover, with a year to go for the assembly
election, the party had enough time to find an
alternative. I was ready to campaign, if required.
As I slowly recovered my strength and prepared52 OUTLOOK 5 August 2019
NARENDRA BISHT