States must be consulted on NCTC: Naveen

NEW DELHI: Maintaining that the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC) is important, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday said that States must be consulted on all vital decisions.Emerging out of the Chief Ministers’ conference, Naveen hoped that the issue of consultations with the CMs, scheduled for May 5, is addressed seriously.  Without naming the Border Security Force Amendment Bill, Naveen said, “These new Acts that the Central Government will bring out, they must be done in consultation with State governments.”Referring to Biju Janata Dal MLA Jhina Hikaka, who was abducted by Maoists three weeks ago, Naveen said, “I assure you that the Government will leave no stone unturned to secure the release of our young tribal MLA.”After attending the conference, Naveen went to Tamil Nadu Bhavan to meet Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. Maintaining that it was a courtesy call, Naveen said he had old family ties with Jayalalithaa.At the meet, Naveen reiterated his demand that the Centre should hold another meeting with the States on the federal rights of the States and issues like NCTC. “As you know, we have had a crisis involving abduction of MLA Hikaka and also two Italian nationals by Left wing extremists and this delay will only further aggravate such problems.”Reiterating that his Government was committed to deal with left wing extremism in the State, Naveen  wanted the Centre to include four more districts in the State __ Kalahandi, Nuapada, Bargarh and Balangir, lately affected by Maoist menace, under the Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Scheme.Pointing out that the Maoists were trying to open new fronts on the Odisha-Chhattisgarh border by expanding activities to bordering district, Naveen   said lack of assistance from the Centre was posing difficulties for the State to provide logistical support to the Central armed police force.