'The government must covertly eliminate the leaders of terrorist organisations abroad so as to eliminate the problem at its roots,' recommends Brigadier Gurmeet Kanwal (retd).
Rejecting Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's contention -- that the National Counter Terrorism Centre is a poorly conceived idea -- the Centre on Wednesday said the country will have to pay a heavy price if the anti-terror hub does not come into existence. Finance Minister P Chidambaram, the architect of the NCTC, said it was "deeply regrettable" that a few chief ministers opposed even the modified version of the NCTC.
Terming the National Counter Terrorism Centre as a "constitutionally vulnerable" instrument which went against the country's federal structure, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Sunday asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh why the fight against terror through the Prevention Of Terrorism Act was "compromised" for vote-bank politics. "When you talk of fighting against terror with a constitutionally vulnerable instrument, BJP puts forth some questions to you," said BJP leader.
The proposed agency to counter terrorism will be preoccupied defending its arrests before the courts and against allegations of human rights violations, points out B Raman
Seeking support for the proposed National Counter Terrorism Centre, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid on Thursday said all political parties and state governments should come together for a collective response to fight against the challenge of terrorism.
Opposing the setting up of anti-terror body National Counter Terrorism Centre in its present form, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh on Wednesday said it violates the federal structure of the Constitution. The chief minister of the Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled state said that the NCTC should be ratified by Parliament to make it responsible and answerable to people.
Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde on Monday made it clear that the controversial National Counterterrorism Center would be set up only after thorough discussions with chief ministers who are opposing it.
We take a look at the reactions coming from various chief ministers over Centre's proposed move to establish the National Counter-Terrorism Centre, who gathered to discuss it in New Delhi on Saturday.
Slamming the Centre for taking a unilateral decision on formation of National Counter Terrorism Centre, key United Progressive Alliance ally and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday said such institutions "upset" the federal structure of the country and was "not acceptable" to the state.
Amid a debate on the issue of presidential candidate, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Watch all the action from the Upper House of Parliament LIVE on rediff.com
State governments must think again before opposing Home Minister P Chidambaram on the Nation Counter-Terrorism Centre, says Aditi Phadnis
With a host of chief ministers attacking the Centre's creation of an anti-terror body, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday stepped into the picture assuring them that states' powers will not be affected and asking Home Minister P Chidambaram to hold talks with them.
In a strongly worded letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has opposed the establishment of the National Counter Terrorism Centre, expressing concern that provisions of the anti-terror organisation "smack of a tendency to abrogate power with no attendant responsibility".
The chief ministers of the non-Congress-ruled states continued to oppose to proposal, while most Congress CM gave it a thumbs up. Here's what a few chief ministers said in support of the NCTC.
Accusing the Centre of behaving like "Viceroys of yore", Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the constitution of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre is a conscious strategy to cast the Centre as an "omnipresent" ruler with states portrayed as dependent vassals.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who chose to skip the chief ministers' conference on internal security in New Delhi, on Monday voiced her dissent over the proposed National Counter Terrorism Centre and asked the Centre to play an "effective coordinating role" to counter Naxalism.
Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Saturday indicated that the annual meeting of chief ministers on April 16 may be extended to discuss setting up of National Counter Terrorism Centre as demanded by some of the non-Congress ruled states.
Dubbing the National Centre for Counter Terrorism as worse than the Prevention Of Terrorism Act and the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Monday met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to convey her reservations over the counter-terrorism provision.
The United Progressive Alliance government on Monday had a smooth sailing in Lok Sabha with key ally Trinamool Congress and the Bahujan Samaj Party walking out and the Samajwadi Party withdrawing its amendments to the President's address, notwithstanding the hype surrounding their opposition on issues like the National Counterterrorism Center.
As many as seven chief ministers have joined a chorus of disapproval against the National Counter-Terrorism Centre, which the Union government notified earlier this month. The United Progressive Alliance has argued that the action flows from powers already in the existing unlawful activities statute.
Chief ministers of Tripura and Uttarakhand on Sunday joined the anti- National Counterterrorism Center chorus taking to 12 the number of opposing states even as their Gujarat counterpart Narendra Modi accused United Progressive Alliance of "attacking" the country's federal structure.
Accusing the Centre of double speak, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said though the United Progressive Alliance government claimed that security was a "shared" responsibility of the Centre and states, it did not bother to consult states when it came to forming laws.
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday raised concerns over the new draft on National Counter Terrorism Centre terming it a "poorly conceived" idea, which "tinkers" with old ideas rather than strengthening them.
In the wake of the Bangalore blast, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde on Monday pushed for setting up the National Counter-Terrorism Center to strengthen intelligence gathering.
Conceding the demand of three chief ministers including ally Mamata Banerjee, the Centre has convened a stand-alone meeting on May 5 to discuss National Counterterrorism Center which has been held up due to stiff opposition from several states.
The National Counter-Terrorism Centre is proposed to be given executive powers of follow-up action on its own and inform the state police thereafter in order to deal with contingencies where the later tends to drag its feet. B Raman reports
Amid escalating row over the Centre's proposal for the setting up of a National Counter Terrorism Centre, the Congress on Saturday struck a conciliatory note, saying the government will definitely try to address concerns raised by United Progressive Alliance ally Mamata Banerjee and chief ministers of non-UPA states on the issue. "If so many chief ministers have expressed their concerns, the central government will talk to them, will certainly try to resolve their concerns."
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday chose to remain ambivalent on his government's stand on the National Counter Terrorism Centre, but asserted that the anti-terror squad in UP is already doing a good job in tackling terrorism.
The home ministry is expected to make some amendments in the National Counter Terrorism Centre. They will inform states about operations before undertaking operations, reports Vicky Nanjappa
The botched terror alert by the Intelligence Bureau has once again put the spotlight on the need for a National Counter Terrorism Centre, which could act as a pool of information. Vicky Nanjappa reports
Amendments moved by the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Left to the President's address against the National Counterterrorism Center was defeated in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.
The Centre will try its best to get a nod from chief ministers to set up the controversial anti-terror hub National Counter Terrorism Centre at Saturday's crucial meeting which is expected to witness fiery scenes.
The government must seriously consider enlarging the scope of its counter-terrorism policy to covertly eliminate the leaders of terrorist organisations abroad who are sponsoring terrorism in India, says Brigadier Gurmeet Kanwal (retd).
From NCTC to GST and from economic reforms to targeted subsidies/entitlements the political need of the present times is leadership in Patel's mold that can engage, negotiate, build trust and confidence where possible, awe and overwhelm when necessary, says Shashi Shekhar.
While this being the debate, rediff.com's Vicky Nanjappa spoke to three people who have widespread experience in dealing with security, legal and state issues.
After West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's strong opposition, her Tamil Nadu counterpart Jayalalithaa on Monday asked the Centre to put on hold formation of the National Counter Terrorism Centre, which is sought to be "steamrolled" into existence.
Congress on Tuesday downplayed the issue of United Progressive Alliance ally Trinamool absenting itself from both houses of Parliament as the government battled opposition over NCTC with the help of Samajawadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party which did the rescue act.
The prime minister should perhaps drop the police role of the NCTC, leaving it free to focus its energies on intelligence gathering, coordination and operations, says a former home ministry official.
Home Minister P Chidambaram indicated that the National Counter Terrorism Centre of India, the umbrella body which would deal with terror threats within the country is expected to get the cabinet nod within the next 15 days.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances