Chennai:
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has once again written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the contentious issue of the proposed National Counter Terrorism Centre or NCTC. In the strongly-worded letter, Ms Jayalalithaa has asked the PM to keep the anti-terror body in abeyance and has urged him to urgently convene a separate meeting of Chief Ministers of various states to discuss the matter.
"It is indeed unfortunate that without taking into consideration the views and sentiments of various state Chief Ministers, the constitution of the NCTC is sought to be steamrolled into existence," the AIADMK chief has said in her letter. (
Read full letter)
She has also expressed displeasure over the fact that despite strong objections and repeated requests by several states, no separate meeting of Chief Ministers has been called so far to brain storm over the matter. In her letter, she particularly seemed upset over an April 16 meeting of CMs. The meeting is being held to discuss various matters relating to internal security, but lists NCTC as just one of the items of discussion.
"It is surprising that against this background, a meeting of Chief Ministers has been convened on the 16th of April 2012, to discuss various matters relating to internal security. Among those issues listed for discussion, the subject of NCTC also figures as one of the items," the letter adds.
It further states that the "views of various 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."
The National Counter Terrorism Centre or NCTC was scheduled to be launched on March 1 but was put on hold in the wake of staunch opposition from Chief Ministers of over 10 states who say they fear that the powers given to the agency would infringe on the rights of the states and hence threaten the country's federal structure.
Besides Ms Jayalalithaa, Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee spearheaded the campaign that forced the Centre to suspend its plans. Ms Banerjee's party, the Trinamool Congress, partners with the ruling Congress at the Centre. On Saturday last week, she too wrote to the Prime Minister and demanded that the "very sensitive issue" of NCTC be the only matter of discussion at the April 16 meeting to ensure adequate interaction. (With inputs from PTI)