New Delhi:
The Centre and State must work hand in hand on internal security as the country battles terror from across the border, Left Wing extremism and religious violence: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's appeal to Chief Ministers at a meeting he is chairing in the capital today. His Home Minister P Chidambaram, who has convened the meeting, underscored, "There is no conflict between central and state forces." (Highlights: PM, Chidambaram address chief ministers' meet)
West Bengal Chief Minister and UPA ally Mamata Banerjee is the only CM not attending today's meeting on internal security. But other non-Congress CMs who have been vocal about their opposition to the Centre's proposal to set up the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) circulated copies of their strong speeches over the issue.
The key agenda of the chief ministers' meeting convened by Home Minister P Chidambaram is the strengthening of anti-terror capabilities and intelligence, Maoist violence, police reforms and capacity building. The NCTC will be discussed today, but a separate meeting of chief ministers on that controversial issue has also been called on May 5, at the instance of CMs like Tamil Nadu's J Jayalalithaa and Mamata Banerjee, who will attend that meeting.
On the sidelines of the internal security meeting, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik trooped in to meet Ms Jayalalithaa at the Tamil Nadu Bhawan. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy CM of Punjab, who was earlier scheduled to also meet Ms Jayalalithaa, did not turn up finally.
Mr Patnaik was the first to meet the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and the two were closeted for over 25 minutes. After the meeting, Mr Patnaik refused to divulge what transpired at the meeting, merely saying it was a courtesy call as Jayalalithaa is an "old family friend of my father." Soon after, Mr Modi met Ms Jayalalithaa for 40 minutes and refused to speak to the waiting media. Ms Jayalalithaa also did not speak to the media.
The closed-group meetings are being viewed as both, some political muscle-flexing and strategy talk before the May 5 meeting. Mr Patnaik however described it as a courtesy call on an old family friend. (Read)
Speaking at the chief ministers' meet, Ms Jayalalithaa accused the central government of bringing the states down to the level of glorified municipal corporations by restricting their operational magnitude, tightening finances and encroaching upon states' powers. "The constant attempts to reduce states to the level of glorified Municipal Corporations heavily dependent on the Centre for funds is a travesty of the federal nature of our existence. This attitude is disturbing and the implication of such exercises is not conducive to either state or national growth," she said.
Mr Modi too criticised the Centre for its "non-consultative" approach with state governments on key security issues. He said the Centre was creating "state within state" by amending RPF Act, BSF Act which take away powers from state police and meddling with subjects under the state list.
Each of these CMs have written to the Prime Minister, some repeatedly, against the proposed anti-terror body NCTC, saying it steps on the toes of states and as such violates the federal structure that the Indian Constitution provides for. Mamata Banerjee has spearheaded that protest, even arm-twisting the government she partners to promise in Parliament that no further steps will be taken on the NCTC without a thorough discussion with chief ministers. Her absence from the internal security meeting today thus will cause some embarrassment for the Centre. For today, Ms Banerjee has sent her Finance Minister for the meeting and has reiterated, "The proposed anti-terror body upsets the federal structure." Lest her views on internal security be missed, she also said, "Left Wing extremism has serious implications on national security."
Left Wing Extremism in fact too was the top priority in the speeches of both Mr Chidambaram and Dr Manmohan Singh this morning. Mr Chidambaram said, "Left wing extremism is the biggest threat to country. There is consensus on two-pronged approach; police action and developmental work." He also kick started today's meeting with an opening address that, apart from an overview of the security situation in the state, includes an assurance to states that there is no, "One half of the cases were solved by the joint efforts of Centre and states. On the operational level, there is no conflict between central and state agencies."
"They work together, consult each other, share intelligence and, when necessary, mount joint operations to apprehend the suspects. In my view, such silent and invisible work of neutralising terrorist modules deserves as much praise as solving the terrorist cases," added Mr Chidambaram.
The PM, while inaugurating the meeting, said, "Serious internal security challenges remain. Threats from terrorism, left wing extremism, religious fundamentalism, and ethnic violence persist in our country. These challenges demand constant vigilance on our part. They need to be tackled firmly but with sensitivity. The forces behind them must not only be contained but should also be effectively rolled back." (Full text of PM's speech)
"Internal security is a matter in which the States and the Centre must work together, hand in hand, and in harmony," said the PM.
In his speech today, a copy of which has been circulated, Odisha Naveen Patnaik has made clear that the NCTC is all-important and that states must be consulted on important decisions. "The discussion on NCTC has been delayed dangerously. As you know we have had a crisis involving the abduction of an MLA and two Italian nationals by left-wing extremists and this delay will only further aggravate such problems. I hope that the issue of consultation with the states is addressed seriously in the meeting scheduled for May 5."
Gujarat's Mr Modi's strongly-worded speech reads, "Internal security is too serious a matter to be treated as an arena for one-upmanship by the Union Govt...State Governments face the brunt of problems related to internal security and must be treated as partners." The copy released also says, "I would like to draw attention to the increasing politicization of CBI to harass and victimize political rivals," and raises the point of defence preparedness saying, "Union Government has failed to instill faith and confidence about our Defence Preparedness in the common man..."
The NCTC is a pet project of Home Minister P Chidambaram, who has passionately advocated the need for the anti-terror organisation and has sought to allay the fears of 10 Chief Ministers who have been vocal in their opposition by assuring them that the government intends to work with states on battling terrorism.
West Bengal Chief Minister and UPA ally Mamata Banerjee is the only CM not attending today's meeting on internal security. But other non-Congress CMs who have been vocal about their opposition to the Centre's proposal to set up the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) circulated copies of their strong speeches over the issue.
The key agenda of the chief ministers' meeting convened by Home Minister P Chidambaram is the strengthening of anti-terror capabilities and intelligence, Maoist violence, police reforms and capacity building. The NCTC will be discussed today, but a separate meeting of chief ministers on that controversial issue has also been called on May 5, at the instance of CMs like Tamil Nadu's J Jayalalithaa and Mamata Banerjee, who will attend that meeting.
On the sidelines of the internal security meeting, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik trooped in to meet Ms Jayalalithaa at the Tamil Nadu Bhawan. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy CM of Punjab, who was earlier scheduled to also meet Ms Jayalalithaa, did not turn up finally.
Mr Patnaik was the first to meet the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and the two were closeted for over 25 minutes. After the meeting, Mr Patnaik refused to divulge what transpired at the meeting, merely saying it was a courtesy call as Jayalalithaa is an "old family friend of my father." Soon after, Mr Modi met Ms Jayalalithaa for 40 minutes and refused to speak to the waiting media. Ms Jayalalithaa also did not speak to the media.
The closed-group meetings are being viewed as both, some political muscle-flexing and strategy talk before the May 5 meeting. Mr Patnaik however described it as a courtesy call on an old family friend. (Read)
Speaking at the chief ministers' meet, Ms Jayalalithaa accused the central government of bringing the states down to the level of glorified municipal corporations by restricting their operational magnitude, tightening finances and encroaching upon states' powers. "The constant attempts to reduce states to the level of glorified Municipal Corporations heavily dependent on the Centre for funds is a travesty of the federal nature of our existence. This attitude is disturbing and the implication of such exercises is not conducive to either state or national growth," she said.
Mr Modi too criticised the Centre for its "non-consultative" approach with state governments on key security issues. He said the Centre was creating "state within state" by amending RPF Act, BSF Act which take away powers from state police and meddling with subjects under the state list.
Each of these CMs have written to the Prime Minister, some repeatedly, against the proposed anti-terror body NCTC, saying it steps on the toes of states and as such violates the federal structure that the Indian Constitution provides for. Mamata Banerjee has spearheaded that protest, even arm-twisting the government she partners to promise in Parliament that no further steps will be taken on the NCTC without a thorough discussion with chief ministers. Her absence from the internal security meeting today thus will cause some embarrassment for the Centre. For today, Ms Banerjee has sent her Finance Minister for the meeting and has reiterated, "The proposed anti-terror body upsets the federal structure." Lest her views on internal security be missed, she also said, "Left Wing extremism has serious implications on national security."
Left Wing Extremism in fact too was the top priority in the speeches of both Mr Chidambaram and Dr Manmohan Singh this morning. Mr Chidambaram said, "Left wing extremism is the biggest threat to country. There is consensus on two-pronged approach; police action and developmental work." He also kick started today's meeting with an opening address that, apart from an overview of the security situation in the state, includes an assurance to states that there is no, "One half of the cases were solved by the joint efforts of Centre and states. On the operational level, there is no conflict between central and state agencies."
"They work together, consult each other, share intelligence and, when necessary, mount joint operations to apprehend the suspects. In my view, such silent and invisible work of neutralising terrorist modules deserves as much praise as solving the terrorist cases," added Mr Chidambaram.
The PM, while inaugurating the meeting, said, "Serious internal security challenges remain. Threats from terrorism, left wing extremism, religious fundamentalism, and ethnic violence persist in our country. These challenges demand constant vigilance on our part. They need to be tackled firmly but with sensitivity. The forces behind them must not only be contained but should also be effectively rolled back." (Full text of PM's speech)
"Internal security is a matter in which the States and the Centre must work together, hand in hand, and in harmony," said the PM.
In his speech today, a copy of which has been circulated, Odisha Naveen Patnaik has made clear that the NCTC is all-important and that states must be consulted on important decisions. "The discussion on NCTC has been delayed dangerously. As you know we have had a crisis involving the abduction of an MLA and two Italian nationals by left-wing extremists and this delay will only further aggravate such problems. I hope that the issue of consultation with the states is addressed seriously in the meeting scheduled for May 5."
Gujarat's Mr Modi's strongly-worded speech reads, "Internal security is too serious a matter to be treated as an arena for one-upmanship by the Union Govt...State Governments face the brunt of problems related to internal security and must be treated as partners." The copy released also says, "I would like to draw attention to the increasing politicization of CBI to harass and victimize political rivals," and raises the point of defence preparedness saying, "Union Government has failed to instill faith and confidence about our Defence Preparedness in the common man..."
The NCTC is a pet project of Home Minister P Chidambaram, who has passionately advocated the need for the anti-terror organisation and has sought to allay the fears of 10 Chief Ministers who have been vocal in their opposition by assuring them that the government intends to work with states on battling terrorism.
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