Chennai, April 2 (IANS) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa Monday urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh not to trust the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) on unwilling states.
She also urged Manmohan Singh to convene a meeting of chief ministers to discuss the matter.
In a letter to the prime minister, Jayalalithaa said: “I request the formation of NCTC may first be ordered to be held in abeyance and a meeting of chief ministers may be convened to discuss this matter.
“The views of chief ministers will have to be given due consideration and a purposeful discussion on counter terrorism should be made possible. I request an early reply in this matter.”
Her demand follows a statement by the Home Secretary that the office memorandum on NCTC has not been withdrawn and is deemed to have come into effect on March 1.
Expressing surprise at the central government convening a meeting of chief ministers April 16 to discuss internal security issues including NCTC, she said: “It is indeed unfortunate that, without taking into consideration the views and sentiments of chief ministers, the constitution of the NCTC is sought to be steamrolled into existence.”
States critical of NCTC allege that it will dilute the federal structure.
