The BJP has spelt out its opposition to the central government notification on the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC), describing it as draconian and violative of the federal structure of the Constitution.
The BJP has spelt out its opposition to the central government notification on the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC), describing it as draconian and violative of the federal structure of the Constitution. It had demanded the convening of the inter-state council to discuss the issue.
Party spokesman JP Nadda told reporters on Saturday that the policy as well as intention of the UPA government to fight terrorism is suspect. “On an issue of national importance, the centre has not considered the need to consult the stakeholders - the state governments,” he said.
He expressed the fear that provisions of NCTC with their draconian overtones is in danger of being misutilised - against political opponents rather than against terrorists. “The UPA does not inspire confidence among the confidence but it expects that states should have confidence in the centre,” he said.
Asked to mention the draconian provisions, Nadda said the central police under the NCTC can now arrest a person from any state and take him out of the state as well without informing the local police. He said this was violative of the federal structure of the Constitution. When asked whether the NCTC provisions were draconanian in themselves or is it due to the fact that state governments were not consulted, he said the provisions were draconian in themselves.
Ironically, Nadda noted the fact some of the POTA (Prevention of Terrorism Act), which the BJP-led NDA had brought when in office, measures were incorporated in the NCTC. He went on to say that the BJP was only too willing that the government should be vested with more powers too fight terror, but this has to be done in consultation and with the approval of the state governments.
He recalled home minister P.Chidambaram’s 2009 statement:
“We will be providing an overarching body for better coordination, for better synergy. It will end turf wars.” Nadda said the NCTC is now placed under the Intelligence Bureau. The BJP response indicates confusion in the party’s thinking as it has been demanding stringent ways to fight terrorism but it finds NCTC to be too stringent to its taste.
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