Lalu missing from cabinet meet on security

Railways Minister Lalu Prasad, who questioned the functioning of intelligence agencies in the wake of Delhi blasts and has demanded a special meeting of the union cabinet to discuss the issue, was today conspicuous by his absent in the meeting.

Lalu had gone to Bihar on September 16 to visit flood- affected areas and will return Delhi on September 22, said an aide of Prasad.

The special cabinet meeting was 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.

In view of the criticism, the government is understood to be contemplating creation of a new portfolio of Internal Security.

Though the United Progressive PA government has rejected BJP's demand for enacting a Prevention of  Terrorist Activities-type law it appears to have some fresh thinking in the wake of calls within Congress also to go for a new stringent anti-terror law.