Not only did Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reject home minister P. Chidambaram’s resignation following Dantewada massacre, but also stood solidly behind him by directing all other ministers not to criticise the handling of Maoists’ issue by the home ministry and not to ventilate feelings on Left-wing extremism in the open.
Just before he left for USA, Manmohan Singh had the cabinet secretary KM Chandrasekhar write to the council of ministers to desist from commenting on issues not directly related to their ministries.
SIngh made it clear that home minister P Chidambaram is the only one authorised to deal with issues related to internal security.

Many Congress leaders, including Digvijay Singh, had presented their views on Maoists in writing or in person to the Prime Minister. Railways minister Mamata Banerjee and minister for food processing Subodh Kant Sahay were among the ministers who had commented on Dantewada massacre.
Having been exposed to criticisms of P Chidambaram and internal security concerns, rather than be briefed about nuclear issues, on the eve of his departure to the US, Singh decided to silence the critics of the home minister.
Maoists had killed 76 security personnel in the Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh on April 6.
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The letter of the cabinet secretary to the Union ministers is reproduced below
April 10 2010
Dear Minister
I am writing in continuation of my DO letter dated January 28, 2009 conveying the decision of the Prime Minister that in respect of issues considered to be sensitive by him one Ministry/Department will be designated as a nodal Ministry as a singhle point for interaction with media and accurate articulation of the action taken being contemplated by Government as well as stance adopted by Government.
It is recalled for ready reference that this nodal Ministry will also make suitable arrangement for regular interaction with media in coordination with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, to brief them on important developments.
Ministers and secretaries senior officials belonging to other departments may advise the media to seek information clarification from the nodal Ministry whenever questions are asked on such issues.
Prime Minister has now desired that regarding all matters related to Left WIng Extremism including the recent incident Dantewada the Ministry of Home Affairs will be the nodal Ministry for interaction with media and articulation of Government position.
With regards
K M CHANDRASEKHAR
Cabinet Secretary