This Article is From Mar 15, 2012

PM's reply on Monday will address Mamata's concerns on anti-terror hub (NCTC)

PM's reply on Monday will address Mamata's concerns on anti-terror hub (NCTC)
New Delhi: Trinamool Congress' concerns on the formation of National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) are likely to be reflected in Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's reply during the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President on Monday, sources said today.

Though a Trinamool Congress amendment to President Pratibha Patil's address seeking deletion of the reference to the controversial matter was rejected in the Lok Sabha, the concerns expressed by TMC chief Mamata Banerjee would be suitably reflected in the Prime Minister's reply to the three-day debate, sources said.

The sources said that this was conveyed to Trinamool leader Sudip Bandopadhyay by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in Parliament today.

The TMC chief and West Bengal Chief Minister has opposed the proposal for setting up of the NCTC, an issue which the Trinamool Congress has made common cause with the Opposition and some non-Congress chief ministers saying the states' rights were being encroached upon.

The move could soothe the ruffled feathers of the crucial UPA ally, which has sought replacement of Dinesh Trivedi as the railway minister by Banerjee's close confidante Mukul Roy.

The TMC move to amend the President's address, which was rejected on technical grounds, could have embarrassed the government in Parliament.

Around 2,700 amendments to the President's Address have been submitted in both Houses in a bid to corner the government on issues like NCTC, federalism and corruption.

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