The Prime Minister has allayed the fears of a host of non-Congress Chief Ministers including those of his allies that the anti-terror body, National Counter Terrorism Centre, NCTC, infringed on the rights of states. Dr. Manmohan Singh wrote back to seven Chief Ministers assuring them that he has asked Home Minister P Chidambaram to address their concerns suitably.

The Prime Minister said, in forming the NCTC, it is not the government’s intent in any way to affect the basic features of the Constitutional provisions and allocation of powers between the States and the Union. He said, the primary purpose of the proposed body is to coordinate counter-terrorism efforts throughout the country as the Intelligence Bureau, IB, has been doing so far.

Dr. Singh clarified that it is for this reason that the NCTC has been located within the IB and not as a separate organization. He wrote to the Chief Ministers of Tripura, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Gujarat, West Bengal, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh.

Meanwhile, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs headed by BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu has decided to ask the Home Ministry to put on hold its decision to set up the NCTC till a consensus is evolved on the contentious issue.