Tension stiffer between States and Centre over NCTC issue

The ongoing tension between Centre government and States over the issue of establishing and empowering anti-terror body National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) has reportedly increased today when West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee chose not to attend the inaugural function of National Security Guards (NSG) hub, inaugrated in Kolkata by Union Home Minister P Chidambaram.

Mamata, who was scheduled to attend the function, sent Trinamool Congress general secretary Mukul Roy and food minister Jyotipriyo Mullick instead of coming self.

Earlier, she had rebuffed the UPA government over the issue of Teesta river pact when she decided not to visit Bangladesh with a high level of delegates led by Prime Minister last year.

Mamata's snubbing step came a day after when six non-Congress ruling governments - BJP led Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Janta-dal-United's Bihar, Biju Janta Dal led Odisha, Akali Dal-BJP led Punjab - along with Mamata and AIDMK led Tamil Nadu on Wednesday opposed the Centre government's move to form NCTC without the consent of the states. They were arguing that the empowering of NCTC under the department of Investigation Bureau (IB) would intervene the federal rights of the states while Home Minister always says that security matter is concern of both the states and the centre.

"Why, then Centre has bypassed the states?," they argued.

Several Chief Ministers have send official letters to Centre seeking to consult states or withdraw NCTC proposal that is scheduled to be implemented from 1^st March 2012. However, none of them, so far reportedly have not received the acknowledgement of their letters.

Home Minister P Chidambaram made no comments at the inaugural venue over this issue however, speaking over establishing NSG hub, he said that this NSG hub would serve the eastern part of the country, that did not have a hub so far.

"We want it to be a mini regional centre," said Chidambaram.

There will be as much as 460 personnel, almost double the usual 241 in other centres, on this centre that will vigil the entire northeast India region.

Some additional facilities for the hub would also be built in adjoining Rajarhat, ministry reported to media.