New Delhi:
Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi and the UPA government lashed out at each other on Sunday over the National Counter Terrorism Centre. Mr Modi said that through the provisions of the new anti-terror body, the UPA government is 'disturbing the federal structure of the country, and it will have grave repercussions.'
"India's federal system is the core structure of the countries functioning. For the progress of the nation, for the unity of the nation, collective responsibility and distribution of work, this is a very scientific structure. But for past few years, UPA government in Delhi is disturbing this structure; because of which there can be grave repercussions," Mr Modi said.
He has also written to the Prime Minister over the issue.
However, the government seemed firm over its policy regarding the anti-terror centre. Congress leader and information and broadcasting minister Ambika Soni hit back at Mr Modi, saying, 'terror should not be politicised.'
"We have said time and again that terror should not be politicised. Everyone is united on the fact that terror needs to be eliminated. The home minister has said time and again that he hasn't violated any laws that have to do with states," she said.
Along with Mr Modi, several other chief ministers of states have protested the workings of the National Counter Terrorism Centre. They include Navin Patnaik, the Chief Minister of Odisha; West Bengal's Mamata Banerjee, Nitish Kumar of Bihar; Jayalalithaa from Tamil Nadu.
The Counter Terrorism Centre, which will become functional on March 1, will have the power to swoop into any state, arrest suspects and fly them out of the state; it will not be obliged to consult the local government. Law and order is a state subject in India. The new agency will keep state police in the loop but need not seek permission from state governments before launching any operation.