In an attempt to streamline its interaction with the media, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Tuesday appointed D.R.S. Chaudhary, Additional Secretary, as its spokesperson.
Mr. Chaudhary currently looks after the Naxal Management Division in the Ministry. He is an officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre of the IAS.
The Ministry, in an official order, said he would interact with journalists at a specified time daily.
The move comes within days of Home Secretary G.K. Pillai facing criticism in and outside the government for his observation that the Pakistani spy agency was involved “from beginning to end” in the November 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.
His remarks on the eve of External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna's visit to Islamabad was seen within the Ministry of External Affairs and the Prime Minister's Office as unnecessary and unhelpful.
Even before taking charge last year, Mr. Pillai was known to be a taskmaster, who was never afraid to speak his mind and air his views. Last year, he had to withdraw a statement he made that Hyderabad would be the capital of Telangana.
