Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit supports NCTC

New Delhi, Feb 21: Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Tuesday came out in support of the proposal to set up National Counter-Terrorism Centre, saying its formation would not intrude into the rights of the states.

Terming the opposition to the ambitious proposal by a number of non-Congress ruled states as "unfortunate", she said the NCTC was being set up to assist the states to deal with security related threats.

"It (the opposition to NCTC) is unfortunate in the sense that it concerns the security of the country. Security is everybody's concern. It (setting up of NCTC) is to merely help security measures, to give them (the states) a helping hand," Dikshit said.

Rejecting criticism that formation of the anti-terror body would disturb the federal structure, she said the only aim of setting up of NCTC was to confront various threats effectively.

"The Home Minister has said this is to assist the states to confront various security related threat...It is not a matter of intruding into anybody's rights," she said.

The opposition to NCTC has grown louder with at least 13 states, including West Bengal headed by UPA ally Trinamool Congress, voicing concerns about the formation of the body, which they claimed will usurp the powers of states and disturb the federal structure.

As per the proposal, the NCTC would be a single window organisation that will gather and disseminate intelligence to central and state security organisations.

Functions of NCTC will include drawing up of plans and coordinating all actions particularly counter terrorism and integrating all intelligence pertaining to counter terrorism.

It will coordinate with relevant probe and intelligence agencies to ensure that the perpetrators of terror are brought to justice besides maintaining comprehensive data base of terrorists, their associates and supporters.

PTI