Orissa CM Patnaik reiterates concern over setting up of NCTC

Bhubaneshwar, Feb 22 (ANI): Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday reiterated his concern over the setting up of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC).

"I repeat again my concern obviously like every chief minister would for the security of the nation, also as a citizen of India and my concern on certain clauses," said Patnaik.

Patnaik said the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, has in his letter assured that the concerns of the various chief ministers will be addressed prior to the formation of the NCTC.

"The prime minister in his letter to me yesterday clearly stated that chief ministers who have written to him about the NCTC matter and their anxiety on this matter will be consulted and that the Union Home Minister P Chidambaram will be in touch with us. So let us await the next step, next response of the central government," he added.

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, had on Tuesday assured that the Centre has no intention of encroaching on the jurisdiction of states in operationalising the NCTC.

"The primary purpose of the NCTC is to coordinate counter-terrorism efforts throughout the country, as the IB (Intelligence Bureau) has been doing so far. It is for this reason that the NCTC has been located within the IB and not as a separate organisation," said Dr. Singh in identical letters to the seven chief ministers, who had earlier written to him.

Several state governments, including the Trinamool Congress (TMC), which is the second largest in the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance Government (19 Members of Parliament), joined the chorus against what is being seen as an attempt to infringe upon state's rights.

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)