Bangalore: CM Urges Chidu to Postpone March 1 NCTC Launch
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Feb 22: Joining hands with several non-Congress Chief Ministers in the country with West Bengal’s Trinamul Congress Chief Minister Mamatha Banerjee spearheading the movement, Karnataka Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda has urged the Union Home Minister P Chidamabaram to postpone the proposed March 1 launch of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre pending consultation with States.
The Chief Minister, who dashed off a letter to Chidambaram on Wednesday, demanded that the Union Home Minister should immediately convene a meeting of the National Security Council to discuss the issue and related subjects.
The type of federalism in the US and India was not identical, Gowda said pointing out that Centre’s unilateral decision to constitute the NCTC infringed upon the responsibilities of State governments as laid down in the Constitution.
The police and law and order came under the jurisdiction of States and the Centre cannot afford to ignore that, the chief minister said.
Despite the reservations expressed by several Chief Ministers, Chidambaram’s moves on NCTC would have powers to arrest, carry out searches and seizures and ask for information from any agency.
''This amounted to violation of the basic rights of States,” the chief minister said contending that such a measure, Gowda said, should have been properly discussed with the States and their views taken.
No such consultation had been held nor views ascertained. Many chief ministers had expressed their strong reservations and dismay and were opposed to the proposed move, he added.