States should have been consulted on NCTC, says BJP

With some states objecting to the power vested in an agency India is setting up to counter terrorism, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Friday said the central government should have consulted states before taking any decision.

"Terrorism is not confined only to the central government, it's a national problem. If the prime minister and home minister are serious about it, then they should have taken state governments on board and decided on something that was acceptable to all," said BJP leader Balbir Punj.

Justifying the opposition of states over the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Punj said: "It is a weird proposal. The move is infringement on the rights of states and this will adversely affect the federal structure of the country."

"The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime has been unfair to non-Congress states. This complaint has not only come from National Democratic Alliance (NDA)-ruled states, but also from states like Odisha and West Bengal," he said.

"Mamata Banerjee is part of the UPA and she also has objections to the NCTC. How can we have a tangible fight against terrorism when you don't enjoy the confidence of your allies?" said Punj.

He said the UPA is guilty of weakening the fight against terrorism as the entire nation seems to be divided on the issue.