Kolkata, March 29 (IANS) Questioning the union home ministry’s move to include the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) as an item on the agenda of the April 16 Chief Ministers’ Conference on Internal Security, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Thursday demanded an exclusive discussion on the proposed anti-terror hub.
“I personally feel that in a federal structure, states are like children and central government is like a parent. But I have an issue. A few days back I received a letter from the union home ministry which stated NCTC will be a part of the agenda of the meeting. I don’t agree. There should be an exclusive discussion on NCTC,” said Banerjee in an interaction with some mediapersons.
The chief minister stated during her last meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, she had requested him not to go forward with the NCTC without consultation with the states or before arriving at a consensus.
“In the chief ministers’ meeting, the entire focus should be on NCTC and the meeting should stick to NCTC, because all the CMs should get the opportunity to present their views,” said Banerjee.
When told that she has been the focal point of opposition by chief ministers to NCTC and the central government is also apprehensive about giving the go ahead, Banerjee said: “I don’t have any ambitions of Dilli Darbar. I am happy in people’s darbar. I have just raised federal issues.”
