Trinamool’s opposition to anti-terror body is political posturing: CPI-M

Dubbing Trinamool Congress’ opposition to the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) as “political positioning” to gain national importance, the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Friday said the country has to put up a united voice against terrorism.

“On the matter of countering terrorism, the country has to be one…I think the country must speak in one voice. But here we find constituents of the same government speaking in different voices,” said CPI-M Central Committee member Mohammed Salim.

The National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) being set up by the central government as a powerful anti-terror agency, was arbitrary and “an infringement on the rights of the states”, key ally Trinamool Congress said Friday.

“It is clear that she is trying to ensure that the political positioning of her party is such that it finds a proper place in national politics,” said Salim while addressing mediapersons on the third day of the party’s 23rd state conference.

The former MP also pointed out that Trinamool being a major partner of the Congress-led UPA government was a partner to decisions taken in the union cabinet.

Salim lashed out at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her theory of “conspiracy” regarding the alleged rape case of an Anglo-Indian woman.

The Kolkata police Thursday said there are “certain technical discrepancies” in the rape complaint filed by an Anglo-Indian woman, while a state minister questioned the morality of the woman and alleged that the complaint was fabricated to extort money.
Mamata Banerjee has termed the incident as “cooked up”.

“This is a symptom of paranoia and at the same time an attempt at passing the buck. The CM’s team finds a theory of conspiracy everywhere,” Salim said.