Now, a minister for internal security?

Home Minister Shivraj Patil under immense pressure (file photo)
Amid concern over growing incidents of terrorism in the country, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has convened a special meeting of the Cabinet on Wednesday night to discuss the issue and contemplate creation of a new post of Internal Security Minister.The special Cabinet meeting has been called in the backdrop of serial blasts in Delhi after which the government, particularly Home Minister Shivraj Patil, has come under attack from the opposition as well as some UPA allies. Railway Minister and RJD chief Lalu Prasad has made an open demand for an emergency Cabinet meeting to discuss threadbare issues arising out of the Delhi blasts.According to highly placed sources, there is a growing realisation that the government must immediately insulate itself from the charge that it is doing little to secure the country. And this especially in poll season when the opposition is doing everything to embarrass the government on this account. Sources said that the need to create the post of Minister of State for internal security is being taken to remove Home Minister Shivraj Patil from the equation. Due to a sustained campaign by oppostition parties, the Home Minister has come to be associated with the government's less-than-satisfactory record of preventing terror strikes. Though the UPA government has rejected BJP's demand for enacting a POTA-type law it appears to have some fresh thinking in the wake of calls within the Congress also to go for a new stringent anti-terror law.Higly placed sources in government have told TIMES NOW that Minister of State for Defence Pallam Raju and Jiten Prasada, who is currently the Minster of State for Steel, are in the running for the job. (With inputs from Agencies)