M A I N   N E W S

Post-terror Rumblings
Patil absent from Sonia meeting
Anita Katyal /Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 15
Home minister Shivraj Patil faced renewed attack today from the Opposition, UPA allies and his own party for his handling of the internal security situation, even as the Congress officially dismissed demands for the minister’s resignation.

Nowithstanding the official position, anger is building up in the Congress over the perceived failure of the home minister to tackle the spate of terrorist attacks. Although there had been murmurs of protest in the party following the Jaipur and Gujarat bomb blasts, the latest terror strike in Delhi, however, has proved to be the proverbial last straw.

On his part, Patil appeared unfazed in the face of mounting criticism. Dismissing speculation on his remvoal, the minister told CNN-IBN today that he enjoyed “full blessings” of his leader Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

However, the Congress is worried that the BJP campaign against the UPA government for being “soft on terror” could find resonance with the electorate and deflect attention from the ruling coalition’s pro-poor programmes in the coming elections.

It is, therefore, pressing for a more pro-active approach to internal security and preferably a change of guard in the home ministry. “ The Centre should be seen to be acting decisively. What is found wanting is public display of confidence that the situation is under control,” remarked a UPA minister.

While talk of “remove Patil” is gaining ground, the home minister’s decision not to address Saturday’s meeting of the extended Congress Working Committee (CWC) has baffled the party. Congress sources maintained that since the issue of terror was worrying the party rank and file, the minister had lost an excellent opportunity to place all facts before the state leaders and other office-bearers at this meeting.

Patil’s problems have been further compounded with key UPA ally Lalu Prasad Yadav today indirectly criticising the home ministry for its handling of internal security in his separate meetings with the Congress president and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

He sought a meeting of UPA parties to discuss measures for combating terrorism. like the Congress, the allies are also worried that the BJP’s terror plank could work against them in the elections.

Despite this build-up, the Congress brushed aside suggestions about Patil’s removal, describing it as cheap politicking. Party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said: “The issue is too large to be reduced to any particular individual’s level.”

Instead, he reiterated that all state governments and political parties should endorse the Centre’s proposal to set up a central agency to investigate terror-related crimes in the country.

He will stay, says Cong

New Delhi, September 15
The Congress today brushed aside suggestions about Shivraj’s Patil’s removal, describing it as cheap politicking. Party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said: “The issue is too large to be reduced to any particular individual’s level.”

Instead, he reiterated that all state governments and political parties should endorse the Centre’s proposal to set up a central agency to investigate terror-related crimes in the country.

“Demands for the Home Minister's resignation at a grave time is nothing but cheap politics by the Opposition party,” he said.

“How many such times the resignation of LK Advani (home minister during NDA regime) was demanded and the same always got rejected by his party,” he said retorting that media was speculative and there were no demands from within the UPA for his removal.

Singhvi’s remarks came in the backdrop of an indirect attack on the handling of Home Ministry by Railway Minister and RJD chief Lalu Prasad who apparently expressed his displeasure over the situation and demand by Opposition parties for his removal.

Strongly advocating the need for a federal agency for investigating terrorism cases, the Congress spokesperson said, “a central agency is something which is seriously needed.”

Noting that the government has a "zero-tolerance" policy towards terrorism, Singhvi said the government needs the “full support” of state governments and parties to get it enacted. — TNS