Patnaik demands chief ministers' meeting over NCTC

Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik Wednesday asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to convene a meeting of chief ministers to address the concerns of the states on the provisions of the proposed anti-terror hub, the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC).

The chief minister, who was the first to raise objections to NCTC provisions, has already received support from other non-Congress ruled states. He said he is disappointed to find that the union home secretary will convene a meeting of all police chiefs and other concerned officers of the states.

"It is imperative that instead of a meeting chaired by the union home secretary, an immediate meeting of the chief ministers be called by you to address the concerns raised by the states on this urgent matter," Patnaik said in his letter to the prime minister.

The controversial NCTC, which was to be set up by March 1, has been facing opposition with some 10 states expressing their fears  that the powers given to the agency would infringe on the rights of the states and threaten federalism in India.

Home Minister P. Chidambaram Friday wrote to 10 non-Congress chief ministers, assuring them that Home Secretary R.K. Singh will be convening a meeting of state police chiefs and heads of anti-terror agencies to discuss in detail the scope and functions of the NCTC.