UPA's challenge: Fight terror, save face on Patil

STICKY SITUATION: The BJP has described Shivraj as the weakest home minister ever.

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Rajdeep Sardesai

26/11: Terror comes precariously close

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New Delhi: The current focus for the Central government seems to be a tougher anti-terror law.

A UPA-appointed committee is now admitting that time has come for a new terror law.

With bombs going off in Jaipur, Ahmedabad and Delhi, Home Minister Shivraj Patil is feeling the heat.

The Opposition is baying for his blood, describing him the weakest home minister ever.

Even within his party, there is mounting discontent. There is a growing clamour for more stringent laws.

Patil is on the defensive and insists that the initiation of a tougher anti-terror law can be considered in Parliament and passed with the support of the members of the parliament.

There are tell-tale signs of his growing distance even with his staunchest supporter at 10 Janpath.

He was carefully omitted from the list of invitees at a meeting on terror convened by Sonia Gandhi.

After Maharashtra Home Minister and Delhi Chief Minister, even the head of the Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) Veerappa Moily agrees with the Opposition prescription. Moily also heads the future challenges group of the party.

Moily says, “The present law is not a strong law. Present law doesn't provide for a strong safeguard.”

The government sensing the mood in the country sounds agreeable.

However, the allies do not want to make a scapegoat of Patil.

Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh says, “All of us would stop doing petty politics from this situation. We should be together irrespective of our party politics at this hour of crisis.”