Patnaik's 'anti- NCTC forum' unites opp

Worried Congress to discuss Mamata’s objections

GN Bureau | February 17, 2012



The Congress Core Committee is meeting today to discuss ally Mamata Banerjee’s objections to the National Counter Terrorism Centre. P Chidambaram’s ambitious project, to be launched from March 1, has run into rough weather with several chief ministers from opposition parties objecting to it.

Also see:

Mamata opposes NCTC, asks PM to withdraw order

Naveen Patnaik and J Jayalalitha too have said the NCTC’s powers go against the federal principles. The Congress does not want the opposition joining hands on this issue. Patnaik has been in touch with Jayalalitha, Banerjee, Sharad Pawar and N Chandrababu Naidu, for the past three days to create a forum against NCTC. Narendra Modi’s office is also in touch with Patnaik’s office to get a copy of his letter to the prime minister opposing NCTC.

Patnaik in a lighter vein joked that Chidambaram wants to snatch away the powers of the state and the chief ministers. According to him, whatever initiatives this eminent lawyer-turned-politician has taken up so far, as finance minister as well as home minister, have failed to take off: consider, for example, direct tax code, fringe benefit taxes, and now national counter terrorism centre.

Patnaik also joked that Chidambaram should first try to become chief minister of Tamil Nadu – then he would understand how a CM would look at the matter.

Meanwhile, Chidambaram is expected to meet the media on Saturday and respond to the states’ criticisms.
 

Comments

 

Other News

Who checks the books?

I read about the news about the Coimbatore library over coffee this morning. On the face of it, the headline was about a political ‘war’ between the DMK and TVK. But what stayed with me was something much more important than the blame game behind what had transpired. A writer walking through

Development paradox: Falling poverty miracle and an inequality problem

India’s reduction in poverty over the past decade is a development achievement of considerable significance. The World Bank’s April 2026 ‘India Development Update’ estimates that the share of Indians living below the international extreme-poverty line of $3.00 per person per day i

In Arunachal, a river we call mother

In Arunachal Pradesh, the Siang is not just a river. For many of us, especially the Adi people, it is part of our family. Our grandparents fished in it. Children learned to swim in it. Our farms drink from it. When someone says a huge dam will be built on it, we do not hear the word "project".

A new retelling of the Mahabharata delves into key moments

In a time when every decision carries consequences and questions of ambition, power, loyalty, identity and moral choice continue to shape our lives, Dr. Arun Krishnan’s new book, ‘Mahakshana’ (Penguin India) offers a strikingly relevant retelling of the Mahabharata.  

Cabinet approves viability gap funding to develop grid-scale energy storage systems

The Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Narendra Modi, has approved the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) Scheme for Development of Grid-Scale Energy Storage Systems, with a total financial support of Rs.14,500 crore for the period FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31. The scheme aims to support the development o

Cabinet creates a pathway to absorb Agniveers in Defence Forces

An objective assessment in terms of organisational requirements and operational efficiency has brought out the outstanding performance of Agniveers in terms of skills, motivation levels, physical fitness and technological prowess. As envisaged earlier, based on merit, 25% of Agniveers will be offered reg

Upcoming Conferences



-->

Archives

Current Issue

Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Subscribe Newsletter

Twitter