New portfolio may come up for Internal Security

A day after Moily Commission recommended changes to the National Security Act and favouring a separate, comprehensive law to deal with terrorism, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has called an emergency Cabinet meeting on Wednesday evening.

Apart from discussions to be carried in detail over the terror issues, a proposal could come in the support of creating a new ministerial portfolio for internal security.

The report though is yet to confirm, the sources say Prime Minister could come up with an announcement in this regard.

Some top UPA leaders have come with suggestion to set up a new post of Minister for Internal Security (MIS) to be instituted under the Home Ministry. Resembling to the rank of a Minister of State, the MIS would be accountable to the Home Ministry and report to the incumbent Home Minister Shivraj Patil.

Further proposals say creation of new portfolio and holding it by a younger Legislator would serve the dual purpose—first, young blood in charge of Internal Security would give an energetic feeling and secondly, the issue raising question over Patil's credibility to handling terror would be set aside.

Further prestige of Shivraj Patil would be remained maintained as the new portfolio, if creates, would be created under him, the new minister would report to Patil, who would still be accountable for maintaining internal security.

Besides, Patil's removal from the Home Ministry for remaining ineffective in handling terrorism at this juncture would spread a wrong signal. The opposition would play on this issue in a poll-bound-nation saying government has been ineffective in handling terrorism and by seeking Home Minister's resignation it has admitted its failure, which the UPA would not like to be happened.

Earlier, disappointment at the Home Minister's casual handling of terror issues and his helplessness before terrorist attack had instigated Railway Minister and RJD chief Laloo Prasad, who sought an open meeting to discuss threadbare issues arising out of the Delhi serial blasts. He had also demanded meeting of all political parties to discuss the situation and expressed concern over the functioning of the intelligence agencies.

Normally, the cabinet meetings are held on Thursday with a pre-defined agenda but today's emergency meeting has been called without any agenda except to carry out a plan to counter terrorism by any means.