Modi to skip CMs’ meet on security

It was at this meeting two years ago that Modi, who was then the chief minister of Gujarat, opposed the creation of National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), which gave sweeping powers to the Centre for surveillance and carrying out operations in states, even without their knowledge. Modi had said that NCTC was a tool to weaken the federal structure in the country. He was joined by then Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. A pet project of former Home Minister P Chidambaram, the NCTC could never take off with the NDA government giving it a quiet burial.

Last year, the CMs’ meeting could not be held due to the change of government and later the new government could not decide on the date due to Modi’s busy schedule. Deliberations to conduct the meeting have been going on since October.

“We had drafted the broad agenda of the CMs’ meet but were not able to decide on the date. Now the date has been finalised but the Prime Minister would not be able to attend it due to his busy schedule,” said a senior official.

Among other things on agenda are the new terror policy of the government, cyberspace monitoring and radicalisation of youth.