Blasts: Sonia pulls up Patil

Congress chief expresses concern over UPA's image.

Home Minister Shivraj Patil seems to be in trouble with Congress President Sonia Gandhi over handling of internal security.

According to a senior Congress leader present at a meeting of the party and the government's core committee on Friday night, the Congress president was upset at the rise in terrorist attacks in the country.

The home minister said his ministry had an inkling of such an attack but before he could proceed, the Congress president said, "We always seem to have prior information, yet don't appear to be doing anything," according to the leader.

She expressed concern that the UPA government was getting a negative image as far as checking terrorism was concerned. "At least our statements and actions should inspire confidence in the people," she is reported to have said at the meeting.

The core committee comprises Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Gandhi, her political secretary Ahmad Patel, Patil, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee and AK Antony. Veerappa Moily was a special invitee to the meeting as OBC quotas were also on the agenda.

Patil's problems were compounded on Friday when he and Gandhi went to Malegaon to visit the blast victims. They had to face angry crowds and two families refused to accept government compensation.

With no arrest in the Mumbai blasts case and no let-up in terror activities in the country, Patil appears to be on a shaky ground.

There are many within his party who think someone else may be able to do his job better. It seems the Congress president has joined the chorus.