Re-examine provisions of anti-terror body: Jayalalithaa

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa Friday urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to re-examine the provisions of the order on setting up the National Counter Terrorism Centre [NCTC] as it “abrogates power without responsibility”.

In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, copies of which were released to the
media, Jayalalithaa referring to the power to arrest and seizure with the intelligence bureau, said: “This is highly objectionable and can be misused to suit ends that are motivated by reasons other than fighting terrorism.”

She said setting up of the inter-state intelligence by NCTC is tantamount to usurping the legitimate rights of the states.

She said that she share the concerns of other chief ministers that certain ministries in the union government act in a “high handed manner without due consultation with the states”.

She said: “Matters of public order and police are in state list of the constitution of India and is it unreasonable to expect that when a major initiative such as a National Counter Terrorism mechanism is sought to be established, the states should be taken into confidence.”