Heeding to coalition partner and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s wish, the Centre is expected to extend the chief ministers’ meet on internal security on April 16 by a day.
Heeding to coalition partner and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s wish, the Centre is expected to extend the chief ministers’ meet on internal security on April 16 by a day to accommodate focused discussion on the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) that has seen strong opposition from non-Congress ruled states.
Welcoming Mamata’s suggestion as a healthy trend for federalism, Union home minister P Chidambaram said, “I am glad that there will be a debate and I sincerely hope that it will be a debate based on the Constitution, laws in force and the very healthy convention that has been built over the last 65 years.”
He, however, clarified that the all other important issues will also be discussed in the meet which is an annual affair.
“I think it is important that all issues on the agenda are discussed. Now how we will accommodate the request of the chief minister to devote a considerable amount of time to discussing the NCTC subject is a matter that will be resolved, I think, in a couple of days.
Certainly, extending it is an option but that will depend on the convenience of the PM and the CMs,” he added.
On the fate of notification under which the NCTC was to become operational on March 1, Chidambaram said: “The notification is there and it is in the agenda. There is no contradiction.”
Banerjee on Saturday said the meeting of chief ministers should discuss only the “sensitive” NCTC issue. “Yes, I have written to the PM,” she told reporters in Kolkata, adding the focus on the NCTC would be lost as 10 items were listed on the agenda.
On United Nations Special Rapporteur Christof Heyns’s appeal for repealing controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), Chidamabram said based on Justice Jeevan Reddy report and all other reports, the view of the ministry of home affairs is that three amendments should be made to the AFSPA and they are pending with the Cabinet Committee on Security.
He said the UN rapporteur report on India was both negative and positive.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}