Journalism of Courage
Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde has said the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) cannot come into being unless all state governments are on board. Shinde was addressing the monthly press conference here on Wednesday.
The recent serial blasts at Bodhgaya have revived the discussion for the need for a national counter terror body which will work in close coordination with the states. The NCTC has faced opposition from CMs like Narendra Modi,Shivraj Singh Chouhan,Mamata Banerjee,Nitish Kumar,J Jayalalithaa and Raman Singh.
The Home Minister said during his last proposal of the NCTC,all provisions were diluted by the Centre with no operational powers to the NCTC but still many states expressed their displeasure. I tried for the NCTC. I have removed all operational powers and thought that there would not be any opposition to it now. But still some chief ministers continue to oppose it.
Shinde said he did not wish to go beyond a point and that it is for the states and the country to decide if such a body at national level is the need of the hour. He said,We have a federal structure and one should not go beyond certain limits. The Centre does not want to push the states who do not want such mechanism. He,however,added that the issue is still on and will be taken up with the states again.
