NCTC 'backdoor' ploy of Centre to grab power: Narendra Modi

Demanding that the Inter-State Council be activated further, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said here that the proposed National Counter Terrorism Centre was nothing but UPA government's ploy to take away states' powers.Accusing the "Delhi Sarkar" of weakening federal system, Modi questioned the need of NCTC instead of anti-terror laws such as POTA. Through this proposed body, the Centre wanted to use the Intelligence Bureau in states' domain, he said."It's a conspiracy to grab power through the backdoor... Already several opposition leaders are in CBI's dragnet, now they are bringing in NCTC..." he alleged.Delivering a lecture in the memory of Dr Om Nagpal here, Modi also demanded that Sarkaria Commission's report on Centre-state relations and Justice Madan Mohan Punchhi's report on Centre-state financial relations be implemented."The meeting of Inter-state Council should be called immediately, and (it should be) twice a year," Modi said.Quoting Punchhi report, he said that Governors should not be a political person, but the Centre, unfortunately, always thrust on Gujarat not only a political person, but someone who had a different political ideology.Modi has crossed swords with present Gujarat Governor, Dr Kamla, on several issues.He also alleged that the proposed communal violence bill aimed at taking away states' powers simply by "creating communal problem". Since the President's rule can not be imposed in a state easily, this was another ploy," he said.

Even the implementation of Right to Information Act was putting a monetary burden on the states, as it needs appointment of separate officers, etc, he said.He also said that Gujarat government's bill which provides 50 per cent quota to women in the Assembly was stuck at the level of the Governor, who, incidentally, is a woman.Similarly, a number of bills passed by the non-Congress state governments were awaiting President's approval, he said.