NCTC: PM meets chief ministers

16:48 (IST)

00:00 Highlights of Chidambaram's press conference:

24 chief ministers were present;3 ministers representing their states were present
Speakers recognized need for an NCTC and the powers and functions of the organisation
Strong support for NCTC, qualified support by some CM's and outright rejection of the idea by 3 CMs
Given the kind of threat India faces, between intelligence and investigative agencies, what India needs is a counter terrorism body. It needs to mobilize all sorts of power, including police, judicial, diplomatic.
Gaps cannot be filled by police, it needs to be filled by a strong anti-terror body. NCTC is that body. It will be highly trained and effective force
Success and failures in anti-terror operations documented
Firmly believe a strong anti-terror body is needed
The decision to bring NCTC under IB was taken by the government based on recommendations by the GoM in 2001
Two CMs have asked for more safeguards to be built, which will be considered
Powers and functions of NCTC can be debated
All suggestions will be carefully and anxiously considered

16:44 (IST)

00:00 Chidambaram's press conference begins

16:42 (IST)

00:00 NCTC meeting of chief ministers concludes

16:10 (IST)

00:00 Analysis: Why intel experts oppose NCTC
It's not just UPA's main ally Mamata Banerjee or Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik who are opposing the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), but even Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) - India's external intelligence agency - had put up a red flag way back in early2010. And, theirs was, perhaps, the first dissent that the Home Minister P Chidambaram faced.

16:07 (IST)

00:00 Strong words at NCTC meet: 10 big quotes
A crucial meeting on the new anti-terror body - National Counter Terrorism Centre or NCTC - is currently on in the Capital today. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister P Chidambaram are meeting with the chief ministers of all states in the hope of finding consensus on the contentious matter.

15:05 (IST)

00:00 Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik wants sub-committe headed by Jayalalithaa:
NCTC isn't acceptable in the present form. It should not be part of IB. All operations should be conducted with state police. A sub- committee headed by headed by Dr Jayalithaa should look into all issues raised by the CMs. Read more

Jayalalithaa with Naveen Patnaik at NCTC meeting:

(Image: PTI)

14:59 (IST)

00:00 Assam CM on NCTC:
Chief minister Tarun Gagoi, who belongs to the Congress party has said he supports NCTC, however, conditions apply. "I support NCTC on special conditions. Govt should take state into confidence and all operations should be joint operations," he said.

From left- Narendra Modi, Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Tarun Gogoi at NCTC meeting:

(Image: PTI)

14:43 (IST)

00:00 Jayalalithaa speaks to media before leaving for Chennai:
Speaking to NDTV, Jayalalithaa said the chief ministers didn't share PM's view on NCTC being centre Vs state. She said the future of NCTC cannot be known as yet because deliberations are still underway.

"AIADMK hasn't invalided it's stand. No concrete proposal has been brought to us yet," she added.

On Koodangulam project, she said that it is set to go critical in 10 days.

14:27 (IST)

00:00 From left- Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal, Himachal Pradesh CM PK Dhumal and Uttarakhand CM Vijay Bahuguna at the NCTC meeting:

(Image:PTI)

14:15 (IST)

00:00 Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee says NCTC unacceptable
Mamata Banerjee outrightly rejected NCTC, said it's not required. She said setting up of institutions like NCTC with the proposed powers of arrest and seizure upsets the federal structure of the country and strongly urged the central government to withdraw order on its formation. Read more

Mamata Banerjee and Chidambaram at the NCTC meeting:

(Image: PTI)

14:14 (IST)

00:00 Narendra Modi at NCTC meet:

Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi demanded for POTA to be re-introduced to combat terror and naxalism
Centre behaving like "Viceroys of yore"; NCTC is conscious strategy to cast the Centre as an "omnipresent" ruler with states portrayed as dependent vassal

13:54 (IST)

00:00 Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar's speech at NCTC meeting:
Maintaining that his objections with NCTC are not against the state's concern at the existing threat to national security, Nitish Kumar said that NCTC violates the sacrosanct principle of federalism. He said the order issued to set up NCTC also suffers from several legal and procedural defects. (Read full speech)

13:29 (IST)

00:00 Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar's speech at NCTC meeting:
PM is concerned about the fiscal deficit Situation and the deteriorating balance of trade. The consequent downgrading by the credit agency - Standard and Poor- has categorised the global outlook on the Indian economy as negative. The time has come for the govt if India to concentrate on setting his own house in order rather than spending time in advising the state governments on principle of administration

12:06 (IST)

00:00 Jayalalithaa advises PM to set house in order, slams Chidambaram in speech:

PM concerned about the fiscal deficit situation and the deteriorating balance of trade. The consequent downgrading by the credit agency - Standard and Poor- has categorised the global outlook on the Indian economy as negative.
Time has come for the government if India to concentrate on setting his own house in order rather than spending time in advising the state governments on principle of administration
Tamil Nadu govt didn't receive a copy of the order. Odisha CM shared a copy. Home Ministry's attitude towards TN is casual, bordering on disdain. Home ministry's negligence reveals the utter contempt the centre has for the TN govt.
There can't be one nodal centre sitting in home ministry, whose nod is required before any counter terrorist response is undertaken
NCTC seeks to accumulate more powers and distance the other stake holders. This will only strengthen the enemy
Instead of providing liberal financial assistance, MHA wants to belittle states and treat them like pawns on a chess board, who can be moved around at will. This idea is counter-productive idea and in violation of the constitution

Jayalalithaa with West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee at NCTC meet in New Delhi:

(Image: PTI)

12:04 (IST)

00:00 Highlights of Jayalalithaa's speech in NCTC meeting

Keep NCTC in abeyance and constitute committee of CMs to devise counter-terrorism strategy; Chart out way forward after recommendations of the sub-committee are available
IB will dominate NCTC. Manner in which the staff sought to be selected for NCTC provides the ammunition for RIFTS NOT Ross among various intelligence agencies, which is a regressive step
Idea of operations decision under IB, independent of state police and armed with powers of arrest and seizure, is preposterous and tweaks a total lack of understanding of ground realities
India's record against terrorism has shown that failures have occurred mainly in bringing about co-ordination between various intelligence gathering agencies. Kargil war exposed chinks in intelligence gathering and 2008 blasts in Mumbai displayed weakness in collection of information from the common people
The national investigating agency act 2008 is an instance of a brazen attempt at encroachment upon the powers of the States
NIA's powers to take up cases without the concurrence of the state government or even sup motu is a case of the centre usurping powers of the state
Country wishes to know why NIA's trials in sensational acts of terrorism not concluded? Does Home Ministry want to have one more instance of failure in the NCTC as it is now proposed? NIA deserves to be wound up, if it's not providing results

11:19 (IST)

00:00 Prime Minister addresses chief ministers at NCTC meeting:

10:53 (IST)

00:00 Highlights of Prime Minister's address:

NCTC not a state vs Centre issue. It is a counterterrorism issue
Co-ordination necessary between Centre and state to fulfill task. Have achieved noteworthy success because state and central police are working together
Government remains committed to work with state and provide all help needed
NCTC will supplement counter-terror mechanism and not supplant the capabilities of the states
NCTC mechanism will give states capability to give a bigger picture of the terrorism act
Need fairly board consensus; want the states to be with centre
Want the state government's co-operation for this important mission; Central government open to suggestions of CMs
Wish all success in the deliberation and look forward to an open discussion

10:25 (IST)

00:00 Chidambaram addresses Chief Ministers at NCTC meeting

10:24 (IST)

00:00

After Mr Singh, Home Minister P Chidambaram begins his opening statement. He explains how the act came into being and all the changes brought about in existing terror laws to make it more powerful. He also added that all changes made were done after wide consultations.

Highlights of Chidambaram's speech:

No one has questioned the validity of the act. After the horrific attack on Mumbai, there was a demand to strengthen the laws. All political parties joined together and unanimously passed the legislation.
The Preamble was amended and a resolution was made and all states were asked to take measures against terrorism.
Careful consultations and discussions were held in Parliament.
We have dealt with the genesis and objectives of this act.
Section 43B has an objective and has a clear mention of the state government
Under constitution, counterterrorism is a joint effort between the state and the governmentt
Many terrorists have footprint across borders.
Anti-terrorism border has to work with many organizations
Highlight new dimensions to terrorism threats
There are terrorism threats on the cyber domain. No border on the online domain, how does the centre combat this space?
Instances where despite sharing information with states on imminent terror attack, no action was taken because the state police had no capacity
2 days ago, central agency received info about a possible terror attack. States were alerted. Suppose, an action has to be taken within minutes or seconds, does the Centre has the power to take action then?
Counter terrorism is a shared responsibility.

10:15 (IST)

00:00 Home Secretary RK Singh makes opening remarks. "We live in a difficult neighborhood, and even as we speak we have information about a terrorist module trying to attack us. The relevant issue has been shared with the concerned states," he says.

10:07 (IST)

00:00 Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the NCTC meet

The 'make or break' meeting on the NCTC has begun. The Prime Minister, Home Minister, and Defence Minister have arrived.

10:03 (IST)

00:00 Tripura chief minister Manik Sarkar subjected to security check before being granted permission to enter the NCTC meet. Taking strong objection to being singled out for a check, Manik Sarkar complained to Chidambaram about the incident. The Home Minister then quickly acted to smooth over the situation.

09:55 (IST)

00:00

Mamata Banerjee, who is staying at her government-allotted flat located near Ram Manohar Lohia hospital has left for the meeting. Before getting into her car, she told reporters that it wouldn't be right to speak before the meeting.

09:54 (IST)

00:00

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh too expressed his hesitation over the issue. "Giving such powers to an intelligence agency like the NCTC which would be constituted without statutory basis will be against the spirit of the constitution and rule of law. Forcing all the officers of the state governments to comply with NCTC by an executive order will be against the federal structure of the Constitution," is what his statement says.

09:39 (IST)

00:00 Nitish Kumar has left Bihar Niwas for Vigyan Bhawan - the venue for the NCTC meeting

09:38 (IST)

00:00 Mamata Banerjee: I strongly urge the government to withdraw order. I urge the PM to hold meetings with CMs periodically to review internal security situation in the country so that the Centre and states can jointly work out broad strategies.

09:36 (IST)

00:00

Statement circulated by Mamata Banerjee: "In conclusion, I reiterate my clear stand that the exercise of police functions should remain the prerogative of the State as enshrined in the Constitution and the well conceived equilibrium of powered and responsibilities between Centre and the States."

09:32 (IST)

00:00 25 of the 28 chief ministers and heads of the six Union Territories will be attending the meeting

09:30 (IST)

00:00

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has demanded a roll back of the NCTC and asked for more concrete action plans to combat terror

09:13 (IST)

00:00 J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah just tweeted about today's NCTC meeting. "#NCTC meeting today. Would have live tweeted the proceedings but I'd probably be turfed out from Vigyan Bhavan," he quipped.

#NCTC meeting today. Would have live tweeted the proceedings but I'd probably be turfed out from Vigyan Bhavan.
- Omar Abdullah (@abdullah_omar) May 5, 2012

08:43 (IST)

00:00

08:23 (IST)

00:00 AIADMK Chief and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, J Jayalalithaa arrived in Delhi at 8.15 this morning. She told reporters that she would make her stand clear when she makes her speech. However, sources say her speech would be against the Centre's stand and the NCTC.

08:23 (IST)

00:00 Spearheading the opposition to the national anti-terror body is UPA ally, the Trinamool Congress. Party Chief Mamata Banerjee says the NCTC 'encroaches on states' rights' and 'interferes in the federal structure of the country' making it clear that the government is going to have a tough time convincing her.

08:01 (IST)

00:00 10 Must-Know Facts on Centre vs State over NCTC

07:58 (IST)

00:00 It's a tough task for the Centre as many states are opposed to the new anti-terror body. They allege it attacks the federal structure of the nation

07:58 (IST)

00:00 The meeting is scheduled to begin at 10 am at Vigyan Bhawan in the Capital

07:58 (IST)

00:00 Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister P Chidambaram will meet with the chief ministers of all states today in the hope of finding consensus on the new National Counter Terrorism Centre or NCTC