New Delhi: Despite Home Minister P Chidambaram's assurance that the states will be consulted before setting up the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Tuesday gave notice for amendment on NCTC in Presidentia address.
UPA allies TMC and NC have already expressed concern over the NCTC.
TMC member Kalyan Banerjee said in the Lok Sabha that the Centre is trying to encroach upon rights of states and this had been seen in the case of Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill too.
"This type of scheme (NCTC) should not be brought. This scheme should be withdrawn immediately," Banerjee said.
Allaying these fears, Chidambaram said the issue can be debated (in Parliament and outside) and NCTC would come into force after looking into the suggestions of the states.
The Home Minister on Tuesday asserted in the House that NCTC was an "absolute necessity" and not an attack on the federal structure and maintained that even states opposed to some provisions of the body support its formation.
"I believe the NCTC is an absolute necessity. A number of states have supported its formation ... I do not believe it violates the federal structure," Chidambaram said, adding even states that have expressed concerns support the formation of NCTC with some changes.
The Home Minister said a meeting of Chief Secretaries and DGPs of states was held on Monday to discuss the NCTC issue and a meeting of Chief Ministers - which was postponed earlier due to Assembly elections - will be held on April 16.
Chidambaram denied reports in a newspaper that the Union Home Secretary had asked Chief Secretaries and DGPs in Monday's meeting not to act like stenographers of their state governments. Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj had raised this issue in the House.
(With additional information from PTI)
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