Sonia leads from the front

A visibly shaken Congress president Sonia Gandhi took command of the situation, in the wake of the recent tragedy. Late at night, as news trickled in of the bloodiest-ever massacre by Naxals in Chhattisgarh, Sonia Gandhi drove down to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's 7, Race Course Road residence. The Prime Minister spoke to Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh, who promised to revert, but never did so.

Uncharacteristic of her, Sonia Gandhi walked up to the media to speak on the unspeakable tragedy. In all the meetings and on all occasions, Sonia remained in command of the situation, which baffled Congress leaders, taking all the seniors by surprise. The absence of Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde was never felt. In Raipur, when Chhattisgarh Chief Secretary Sunil Kumar tried to bat for the state government, arguing that there was no security lapse, Sonia Gandhi put a simple question to him, "Then, how did such an enormous tragedy take place?" The poser was met with deafening silence, as he had no credible answer. At the AICC headquarters where a prayer meeting was held to show national solidarity with the tragedy, the party top-brass was present in strength, as they understood that she was shaken to the core and was serious on the issue.