PM hints at Cabinet expansion

Collective strategy to free world from menace of terrorism needed: Singh

A throwaway remark by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has caused hearts to beat faster in Delhi.

On his return from London, he told reporters on-board the aircraft he was travelling that there was "always a possibility" of a Cabinet reshuffle in the near future. Asked if the reshuffle would take place before his visit to the US, he said, "I cannot say that."

A reshuffle has been in the works for more than a month now with Singh wanting to augment his team as well as sack some non-performers.

But Congress leaders said the process of replacing some senior ministers could create so many problems in its wake that each time such an exercise was envisaged, it had to be abandoned halfway.

Power Minister PM Sayeed is known to have told colleagues that rumours about him being replaced are untrue""that he's got an endorsement from the Prime Minister himself. For obvious reasons, the reshuffle has to be restricted to Congress members of the council of ministers.

If the Prime Minister does not reshuffle the Cabinet before he leaves for the US on 16 July, it is unlikely that it will be done before the Monsoon Session of Parliament that begins on July 25.

Speaking to reporters in Delhi, Singh said a collective strategy to free the world from the menace of terrorism was needed.

"The London blasts show that terrorism is a global phenomenon. We have suffered from this scourge for nearly 20-25 years," he said.

"The blasts have made it evident that all of us should work together to evolve a collective strategy to free the world from this scourge," he added.

The Prime Minister attended a meeting of G-5 countries (India, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa and China) in Scotland. He said a consensus had emerged on working towards reforming the global trading system, transfer of resources to developing countries and transfer of technology from the rich to poor nations.

Singh said at his meeting with G-8 leaders, he expressed concern on the world paying inadequate attention to the needs of poor countries.