New Delhi, March 13
The government today made it clear that it had no plans of junking the proposed National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) even as its main ally, the Trinamool Congress, demanded immediate withdrawal of the proposal to set up the anti-terror hub, stating it was infringing upon states’ powers.

Rejecting the fears of the TMC, which wants the counter-terrorism centre junked without further debate, Home Minister P Chidambaram said in the Lok Sabha today that it was an exceptional idea and only its functioning was debatable. He told the House that most states had welcomed the idea of the NCTC at the crucial meeting of Chief Secretaries and DGPs yesterday.

"We can debate the matter but I am quite clear that NCTC or a similar centre is an absolute necessity to fight terrorism. I don't think NCTC violates the federal rights of states," Home Minister said after TMC's Kalyan Banerjee demanded withdrawal of the February 3 office memorandum on NCTC.

Referring to yesterday's meeting, Chidambaram said a number of states supported the NCTC in principle and the opposition was only aspect-specific. "Even states that opposed certain aspects of the NCTC office memorandum supported its principle," he said.

The government also said that state DGPs and Chief Secretaries had expressed two main concerns, as had some CMs in an earlier letter to the Home Minister: How will the power accorded to NCTC under Section 43 (where the Centre will have police powers) be exercised and what will be the scope and function of the Standing Council that is proposed to have state representation.

"Many of these concerns were addressed yesterday. When I receive the minutes of yesterday's meeting, I will see if a further letter has to be written to the CMs. If needed, I will do that... In the government's view, we don't believe setting up the NCTC violates any federal principle.

The CMs of Odisha, Bengal, MP, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Tripura, Bihar, Himachal, Jharkhand and Karnataka had written to the government saying the NCTC was anti federal.

“On the contrary, it will be a mechanism where the shared responsibility for the Centre and states governments can be achieved,” said Chidambaram.

“I am absolutely confident that with discussions, a consensus can be reached and NCTC operationalised," he said during Question Hour today.