By Prensa Latina,
New Delhi : Due to growing terrorist attacks in India, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called a special cabinet meeting on Wednesday to analyze the creation of the Domestic Security Ministry.
The meeting will be held after a series of terrorist attacks shook this capital Saturday night, taking a toll of 30 deaths and more than 100 wounded.
New Delhi joined four other cities shaken by bomb attacks over the past four months, resulting in more than 150 deaths and hundreds of wounded.
President Pratibha Patil said at a meeting with the governors of all Indian states on Tuesday that this wave of urban terrorism has become a serious challenge.
After five bomb attacks in three busy sectors of New Delhi, both the opposition and some allies in the governing coalition have criticized the government and particularly Interior Minister Shivraj Patil.
According to the TV news program Times Now, high government spheres need to protect themselves from denunciations.
The situation is very sensitive in the pre-election period, when the opposition is trying to do everything possible to put authorities in an embarrassing position.
Sources that Times Now did not identify said the proposal to appoint a state minister for Domestic Security is aimed at getting Patil out of the equation.
They added that the incumbent state ministers for Defense, Pallam Raju, and for the Iron and Steel Industry, Jiten Prasada, are the main candidates for the new post.
In the light of rumors that he would quit, Patil said he would resign only if the government’s leadership urged him to do so.
At the same time, the Congress Party (CP), which heads the governing United Progress Alliance (UPA), is weighing tougher anti-terrorism legislation.