New Delhi, February 17
The Union Home Ministry today defended the setting up of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC), India’s first attempt at having a centralised counter-terrorism wing, as a move in “national interest” and countered the version of protesting Chief Ministers saying that it was not a result of any new legislation.

The Union Home Ministry that drafted the framework of the NCTC, in consultation with the states, is aghast at the turn of events with an official saying, “states are protesting as if terrorism has boundaries”. A strong counter-terrorism effort is needed and the Centre only intends to coordinate that.

Union Home Secretary RK Singh said, “The NCTC has been set up under the amended UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act).” The NCTC comes into force from March 1.

The UAPA was passed by Parliament in January 2009 after the November 2008 Mumbai terror attacks and all parties, at that time, had spoken about a strong law.

Reacting to the criticism, the Home Secretary said, “The NCTC is in national interest and it is being established under the existing laws.”

Singh allayed fears of the Chief Ministers who have cited certain Sections which they find offending saying “The sections which have been quoted have been on the statute for the past six-seven years. These are not any new provisions of law.”