Centre today clarified that it has no intention of weakening the federal structure of the country. Maintaining that the decision to set up the National Counter Terrorism Centre – NCTC – was an administrative step, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni said that the Home Secretary had given a statement yesterday explaining the issue. It has been made clear that the proposal by the Home Minister does not require changes in the existing laws or something for which there is a need to approach Parliament.

Talking to Newsmen, on the sidelines of a function in New Delhi, Ambika Soni said, she felt that even the Chief Ministers are well aware that the Manmohan Singh Government will never want to weaken the Federal Structure.

Asked if terror is being politicised, she said, every time there has been a discussion on terrorism in the country everyone has said that terror and politics have nothing in common.

On Samajwadi Party's charge that the Election Commission is working under Congress pressure, Ambika Soni said it is known that SP says different things at different times.