NCTC row: UPA Govt. will address concerns of various CMs', says Congress

New Delhi, Apr 2 (ANI): Congress Party on Monday said the UPA Government will address the concerns of those chief ministers, who have raised observations on the issue of operationalisation of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC).

Congress spokesperson Manish Tiwary reiterated the government's stand on the issue, and stated that both the Prime Minister and Home Minister have already said that the government is ready for consultations with the concerned states on this issue.

Tiwary further said that a consultation process has already been started in this regard.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa had earlier reportedly written a second letter to Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, asking him to put his government's plans for establishing a NCTC on hold.

She has reportedly sought a separate meeting of all the chief ministers to discuss the counter-terrorism body and the apprehensions raised by the state governments.

The main task of the NCTC would be to ensure that the wide variety of security organizations in the country work in tandem, at least on issues related to terrorism.It will also have the power to seek information, including documents, reports, transcripts, and cyber information from any agency, including from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), National Investigation Agency, National Technical Research Organization, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence and all seven central armed police forces including the National Security Guard (NSG).The body, which will function under the Intelligence Bureau, has been given its own operational wing with powers to arrest and conduct searches under Section 43A of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. (ANI)