08-04-2008, 12:16 PM
<b>Shivraj Patil on his way out</b>
With terrorists cocking a snook at the government, leaders cutting across party lines have reportedly sought the removal of home minister Shivraj Patil from the cabinet. SP and the JMM meanwhile have been demanding their pound of flesh.
CJ: S Shivakumar, merinews , 22 hours ago Views:376 Comments:
NOT MUCH headway has been made in identifying and apprehending the culprits behind the serial blasts that shook Bangalore and Ahmedabad last week. The back-to-back blasts were carried out in such a brazen manner that it gave one the impression that the terrorists detonated the bombs for a dare. Although the intelligence bureau blamed SIMI for the serial blasts, no solid evidence has been collected so far. Nor has it been possible to apprehend the leading terrorists behind the blasts. It is being alleged in informed circles in New Delhi that laxity on the part of the home ministry led to the serial blasts. Even senior Congress leaders are of the view that the Union Home Minister has not been doing a good job.
The subject came up for discussion at the cabinet meeting held a couple of days ago. Some senior ministers minced no words in stating that the home ministry had been steadily losing ground to the terrorists. Ministers representing the other parties of the alliance are said to have expressed their dissatisfaction with the functioning of the home ministry headed by Shivraj Patil. Although fifteen serial blasts had occurred over the past four years, none of the culprits behind the said blasts had been apprehended.
Incidentally, senior BJP leader L K Advani, during his recent meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, is said to have remarked that the home ministry had lost ground to the terrorists. With leaders of all the political parties expressing their dissatisfaction with the functioning of the home ministry, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is said to have decided to drop Shivraj Patil from the cabinet. A section of the Congress party is said to have suggested that Patil be dropped from the cabinet even if it warrants appointing him as Governor.
As already reported, the Prime Minister has decided to accommodate some leaders of the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) in the cabinet, in recognition of the help the said two parties extended to the UPA government during the no-trust motion moved in the Lok Sabha on July 22. The cabinet reshuffle is likely to be carried out in two phases. As soon as the Prime Minister returns home on Monday upon conclusion of the SAARC conference, the cabinet reshuffle-related discussions will enter the final phase. SP, waiting impatiently to join the government, wants six of its leaders to be appointed as ministers of cabinet rank. It wants inter alia, the petroleum ministry and the commerce ministry for its leaders. On his part, the JMM boss has said that nothing short of the coal ministry is acceptable to him.
The Congress party has already made it clear that the finance ministry, home ministry, defence ministry and external affairs ministry will be headed by Congress leaders alone. All the same, it is being felt in informed circles that to keep its alliance partners happy, the Congress party may replace the leaders heading these ministries with other Congress leaders. If Shivraj Patil is dropped from the cabinet, either Pranab Mukherji or Kamalnath will become the home minister. Pranab is said to be in favour of heading the home ministry. If his wish is granted by the Prime Minister, Kamalnath may get the external affairs ministry.
Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh believe that shifting Kamalnath from the commerce ministry will make the SP leaders happy.
Meanwhile, another section of the Congress party has been insisting that Finance Minister Chidambaram be shifted from the finance ministry. It is being rumoured that if Chidambaram is shifted from the finance ministry, Pranab will get the finance ministry and Kamalnath will get the external affairs ministry. Some senior leaders of the Congress party are opposed to conceding the Petroleum ministry to SP. The stand-off showing no signs of abatement, Sonia Gandhi is said to be thinking in terms of advising some senior Congress leaders to attend to party affairs.
With terrorists cocking a snook at the government, leaders cutting across party lines have reportedly sought the removal of home minister Shivraj Patil from the cabinet. SP and the JMM meanwhile have been demanding their pound of flesh.
CJ: S Shivakumar, merinews , 22 hours ago Views:376 Comments:
NOT MUCH headway has been made in identifying and apprehending the culprits behind the serial blasts that shook Bangalore and Ahmedabad last week. The back-to-back blasts were carried out in such a brazen manner that it gave one the impression that the terrorists detonated the bombs for a dare. Although the intelligence bureau blamed SIMI for the serial blasts, no solid evidence has been collected so far. Nor has it been possible to apprehend the leading terrorists behind the blasts. It is being alleged in informed circles in New Delhi that laxity on the part of the home ministry led to the serial blasts. Even senior Congress leaders are of the view that the Union Home Minister has not been doing a good job.
The subject came up for discussion at the cabinet meeting held a couple of days ago. Some senior ministers minced no words in stating that the home ministry had been steadily losing ground to the terrorists. Ministers representing the other parties of the alliance are said to have expressed their dissatisfaction with the functioning of the home ministry headed by Shivraj Patil. Although fifteen serial blasts had occurred over the past four years, none of the culprits behind the said blasts had been apprehended.
Incidentally, senior BJP leader L K Advani, during his recent meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, is said to have remarked that the home ministry had lost ground to the terrorists. With leaders of all the political parties expressing their dissatisfaction with the functioning of the home ministry, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is said to have decided to drop Shivraj Patil from the cabinet. A section of the Congress party is said to have suggested that Patil be dropped from the cabinet even if it warrants appointing him as Governor.
As already reported, the Prime Minister has decided to accommodate some leaders of the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) in the cabinet, in recognition of the help the said two parties extended to the UPA government during the no-trust motion moved in the Lok Sabha on July 22. The cabinet reshuffle is likely to be carried out in two phases. As soon as the Prime Minister returns home on Monday upon conclusion of the SAARC conference, the cabinet reshuffle-related discussions will enter the final phase. SP, waiting impatiently to join the government, wants six of its leaders to be appointed as ministers of cabinet rank. It wants inter alia, the petroleum ministry and the commerce ministry for its leaders. On his part, the JMM boss has said that nothing short of the coal ministry is acceptable to him.
The Congress party has already made it clear that the finance ministry, home ministry, defence ministry and external affairs ministry will be headed by Congress leaders alone. All the same, it is being felt in informed circles that to keep its alliance partners happy, the Congress party may replace the leaders heading these ministries with other Congress leaders. If Shivraj Patil is dropped from the cabinet, either Pranab Mukherji or Kamalnath will become the home minister. Pranab is said to be in favour of heading the home ministry. If his wish is granted by the Prime Minister, Kamalnath may get the external affairs ministry.
Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh believe that shifting Kamalnath from the commerce ministry will make the SP leaders happy.
Meanwhile, another section of the Congress party has been insisting that Finance Minister Chidambaram be shifted from the finance ministry. It is being rumoured that if Chidambaram is shifted from the finance ministry, Pranab will get the finance ministry and Kamalnath will get the external affairs ministry. Some senior leaders of the Congress party are opposed to conceding the Petroleum ministry to SP. The stand-off showing no signs of abatement, Sonia Gandhi is said to be thinking in terms of advising some senior Congress leaders to attend to party affairs.