19 Facts About Shivraj Patil

Shivraj Vishwanath Patil was born on 12 October 1935 and is an Indian politician who was the Minister of Home Affairs of India, from 2004 to 2008 and 10th Speaker of the Lok Sabha from 1991 to 1996.

Shivraj Patil was Governor of the state of Punjab and Administrator of the Union Territory of Chandigarh from 2010 to 2015.

Shivraj Patil was born on 12 October 1935 in the village of Chakur in the Latur district of the then princely state of Hyderabad, now Maharashtra, India.

Shivraj Patil attended Osmania University, Hyderabad, earning a degree in Science and studied law at Bombay University.

Keshavrao Sonawane and Manikrao Sonawane helped Shivaraj Shivraj Patil to get his first break to stand from Latur Constituency.

Shivraj Patil married Vijaya Patil in June 1963, and has two children - a son and a daughter - with her.

Shivraj Patil is a devout follower of Sathya Sai Baba.

Shivraj Patil served on various committees including those on Defence, External Affairs, Finance, Salaries and Allowances of members of parliament.

Shivraj Patil has held a number of important positions in the party ever since Sonia Gandhi took over the presidency of the party.

Shivraj Patil is largely known for introducing the Outstanding Parliamentarian Award, India in 1992.

Shivraj Patil was the chairman of the manifesto committee of the party during the 1999 Lok Sabha election.

Shivraj Patil was elected to the Rajya Sabha in July 2004.

Shivraj Patil is accused for not sending the Central Reserve Police Force to Nandigram, even after repeated requests by the West Bengal government, to restore law and order in the area and the events resulted in police firing and killing of men and women in Nandigram.

Shivraj Patil's name was considered a likely candidate in 2007 presidential election.

Shivraj Patil was later considered a possible candidate for the post of Vice-President of India.

On 30 November 2008, just four days after Bombay blasts, Shivraj Patil resigned from his position of Home Minister in Union Cabinet taking moral responsibility for the security lapse that led to the November 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai.

Shivraj Patil was reported to have been changing clothes for public appearances while the country was under a terror attack.

Shivraj Patil's actions are compared to Nero who played his fiddle while the city burned as Patil focused on changing his clothes while the country was witnessing a terror attack.

Shivraj Patil is criticized to have omitted this episode from his autobiography.