Patnaik's 'anti- NCTC forum' unites opp

Worried Congress to discuss Mamata’s objections

GN Bureau | February 17, 2012



The Congress Core Committee is meeting today to discuss ally Mamata Banerjee’s objections to the National Counter Terrorism Centre. P Chidambaram’s ambitious project, to be launched from March 1, has run into rough weather with several chief ministers from opposition parties objecting to it.

Also see:

Mamata opposes NCTC, asks PM to withdraw order

Naveen Patnaik and J Jayalalitha too have said the NCTC’s powers go against the federal principles. The Congress does not want the opposition joining hands on this issue. Patnaik has been in touch with Jayalalitha, Banerjee, Sharad Pawar and N Chandrababu Naidu, for the past three days to create a forum against NCTC. Narendra Modi’s office is also in touch with Patnaik’s office to get a copy of his letter to the prime minister opposing NCTC.

Patnaik in a lighter vein joked that Chidambaram wants to snatch away the powers of the state and the chief ministers. According to him, whatever initiatives this eminent lawyer-turned-politician has taken up so far, as finance minister as well as home minister, have failed to take off: consider, for example, direct tax code, fringe benefit taxes, and now national counter terrorism centre.

Patnaik also joked that Chidambaram should first try to become chief minister of Tamil Nadu – then he would understand how a CM would look at the matter.

Meanwhile, Chidambaram is expected to meet the media on Saturday and respond to the states’ criticisms.
 

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