NCTC powers will infringe Federal features: CM

BHUBANESWAR: Taking serious exception to some of the ‘draconian’ features in the newly-created anti-terror agency under the Intelligence Bureau (IB) of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the State Government on Monday urged the Centre to reconsider its decision. Shooting off a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said the power vested in the proposed National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) will undermine the State authority. The NCTC will become operational on March 1. ‘’The NCTC constituted in the IB and the powers vested in it appear to be an infringement on the powers of state governments in matters of investigation and maintenance of order,’’ the Chief Minister said.  As per the February 3 office memorandum of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the NCTC officers will have the power to search and arrest under Section-3A of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, without consulting the state governments. Further, NCTC has been empowered to collect information from all authorities, including functionaries of state governments. The State Government is required to provide necessary information, documents and reports sought by the anti-terror agency.  ‘’Would it not have been advisable for the Union Government to have prior consultation with the state governments? This clearly seems to be an infringement on the federal structure of states as enshrined in the Constitution,’’ the Chief Minister remarked.  The people of the country are aware of their democratic and federal rights which at times have to be underlined by states to the Centre, Naveen said.  ‘’After all, the price of democratic freedom is eternal vigilance. It would seem that the UPA Government at times, knowingly or unknowingly, infringes the federal rights,’’ the letter said. Requesting the Prime Minister to review the Home Ministry order, Naveen sought an early response on the matter from the  Ministry.